3.3.1. Drying Methods

Freeze-drying (FD, control) (ca. 100 g) was carried out in a freeze dryer (Christ Alpha 1–4 LSC; Osterode am Harz, Germany) for 24 h. The temperature within the drying chamber was −60 ◦C, while the heating plates had the temperature of 25 ◦C.

Vacuum drying (VD) was made in VACUCELL 111 ECO LINE vacuum dryer (MMM Medcenter Einrichtungen GmbH, Planegg, Germany) at 50 and 60 ◦C under pressure of 0.1 mbar for 24, and 16 h, respectively.

All drying experiment were performed in duplicate. The samples obtained were milled by laboratory mill (IKA A.11, Wilmington, NC, US), and vacuum sealed. The powders were kept in a freezer (−20 ◦C) until extracts' preparation.
