Changes in the Essential Oil Composition ofOriganum majoranaL. During Post Harvest Drying

To assess the changes in essential oil content and composition of sweet- marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) during post harvest drying / storage, an experiment was conducted in the hilly region of Uttarakhand. Drying of sweet-marjoram herb under shade and field conditions prior to distillation increased the essential oil recovery by 11.1 %. Altogether, twenty-seven constituents, representing 93.23-98.81 % of the total oil compositions were identified using GC/FID and GC/MS techniques. Major constituents of the oil were cis-sabinene hydrate (20.23-46.27 %), terpinen-4-ol (9.32-23.43 %), γ-terpinene (5.67-13.76 %), α-terpinene (2.98-8.38 %), sabinene (4.90-8.17 %), trans-sabinene hydrate (5.01-7.34 %) and α-terpineol (3.41-4.17 %). The amount of cis-sabinene hydrate decreased on shade drying and subsequent storage under shade conditions (from 37.05 to 20.23 %); however, its content was improved on drying under space conditions (37.52-46.27 %) as compared to the fresh herb (37.05 %).