Background : Chinese matrimony vine (Lycium chinense Mill.) is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Solanaceae. The leaves are used as an alternative raw material replacing dried fruits associated with high production costs in many industires. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of drying temperature on the leaves used in the manufacture of functional products.
Methods and Results : The leaves of Chinese matrimony vine were harvested when the plant height reached 60 - 70 ㎝ in the spring and treated at four different temperatures (40℃, 50℃, 60℃ and 70℃). The time to reach the desiccation state of 20% was 63 h at 40℃, 37 h at 50℃, 17 h at 60℃ and 11 h at 70℃. The drying rate per hour was 1.28% at 40℃, 2.25% at 50℃, 4.94% at 60℃ and 7.60% at 70℃. No significant difference were observed in ash, crude fat, polyphenol or rutin content of treated samples. Crude protein and betaine content decreased with higher dry temperatures. Nitrogen free extract of the treated samples increased with higher drying temperatures.
Conclusions : Taking into consideration drying time, drying rate, color value, energy consumption and functional ingredients is advantageous to dry the leaves of the Chinese matrimony vine at 60℃ using a hot air agricultural dryer.

• 주정일(충남농업기술원 인삼약초연구소 청양구기자시험장) | Jung Il Ju Corresponding Author
• 이 정(충남농업기술원 기술개발국) | Jeong Lee
• 백승우(충남농업기술원 기술개발국) | Seung Woo Paik
• 윤덕상(충남농업기술원 인삼약초연구소 청양구기자시험장) | Tug Sang Yun
• 박영춘(충남농업기술원 인삼약초연구소 청양구기자시험장) | Young Chun Park
• 이보희(충남농업기술원 인삼약초연구소 청양구기자시험장) | Bo Hee Lee
• 김현호(충남농업기술원 인삼약초연구소 청양구기자시험장) | Hyun Ho Kim
• 이희봉(충남대학교 농업생명과학대학) | Hee Bong Lee