title: Optimization of the process of aromatic and medicinal plant maceration in grape marc distillates to obtain herbal liqueurs and spirits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herbal liqueurs are alcoholic beverages produced by the maceration or distillation of aromatic and medicinal plants in alcohol, and are also highly valued for their medicinal properties. The process conditions, as well as the number and quantity of the plants employed, will have a great influence on the quality of the liqueur obtained. The aim of this research was to optimize these important variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Box-Benhken experimental design was used to evaluate the independent variables: alcohol content, amount of plant and time during the experimental maceration of plants in grape marc distillate. Four plants were assessed, with the main compound of each plant representing the dependent variable evaluated with respect to following the evolution of the maceration process. Bisabolol oxide A in Matricaria recutita L., linalool in Coriander sativum L. and eucalyptol in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. were quantified using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Glycyrrhizic acid in Glycyrrhiza glabra L was determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. Other dependent variables were also evaluated: total phenolic content, color parameters and consumer preference (i.e. appearance).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental designs allowed the selection of the optimal maceration conditions for each parameter, including the preference score of consumers: 70% (v/v) of ethanol, 40 g L-1plant concentration and a maceration process of 3 weeks. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo (Campus Ourense), As Lagoas s/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain.|Laboratory of Agro-food Biotechnology, CITI-Tecnópole, Tecnological Park of Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Solana
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo (Campus Ourense), As Lagoas s/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain.|Laboratory of Agro-food Biotechnology, CITI-Tecnópole, Tecnological Park of Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Araújo
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo (Campus Ourense), As Lagoas s/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain.|Laboratory of Agro-food Biotechnology, CITI-Tecnópole, Tecnological Park of Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo (Campus Ourense), As Lagoas s/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain. smcortes@uvigo.es.|Laboratory of Agro-food Biotechnology, CITI-Tecnópole, Tecnological Park of Galicia, San Cibrao das Viñas, Ourense, Spain. smcortes@uvigo.es.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortés-Diéguez
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D020843:Chamomile; D028526:Coriandrum; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000737:chemistry; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D005052:Eucalyptus; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C004497:bisabolol; C018584:linalool; D000077591:Eucalyptol
keywords: Box-Benhken design; aromatic and medicinal plant (AMP); color parameters; herbal liqueurs; herbal spirits; maceration process