Gymnema sylvestre is a reputed herb in the ayurvedic system of medicine. The phytoconstituents responsible for sweet suppression activity includes triterpene saponins known as gymnemic acids, gymnemasaponins, and a polypeptide, gurmarin. The herb exhibits a broad range of therapeutic effects as an effective natural remedy for diabetes. Efforts have been made to prepare gudmar dried extract. Physico-chemical properties of prepared extract were evaluated. On the basis of physico-chemical properties and gymnemic acid content gudmar dried extract was added at 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 per cent for preparation of gudmar dried extract based fennel RTS beverage. Sugar was also replaced with aspartame, stevia and sucralose. The organoleptic test score indicated that among the fennel RTS beverages, the beverage with 1.0 per cent gudmar dried extract and sucralose as sweetner was accepted by panel members. TSS of the fennel RTS beverage was increased while acidity decreased with increase in proportion of gudmar dried extract. Selected fennel RTS beverage (1.0 % gudmar dried extract and sucralose as sweetner) was found to be rich in gymnemic acid content and organoleptically acceptable.

In the present investigation, the effect of drying on phytochemical composition of lemongrass powder was evaluated. The lemongrass powder was prepared by traditional (Sun and shade) drying and cabinet drying (45 o C). The qualitative determination of phytochemicals such as alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, phenol, carbohydrate and glycoside in aqueous, ethanol, acetone and chloroform extract were carried out. It was revealed that, next to ethanolic extract, aqueous extract showed the presence of rich variety of secondary metabolites. The total phenolic content of cold and hot extract was 2.6 ± 0.02 and 3.8 ± 0.02 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g dw basis. The total flavonoid content in cold and hot percolation were found to be 7.6 ± 0.03 and 8.1 ± 0.03 µg/g of quercetin equivalent dw basis. The alkaloids, saponins, steroids and tannin contents were 1.64 ± 0.05, 1.11 ± 0.05, 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.93 ± 0.05 g/100 g. The minimum reduction of total phenol content observed in shade drying treatment in cold (15.38%) and hot (13.15%) aqueous extract, whereas maximum reduction in cold (38.46%) and hot (26.31%) extract by cabinet drying. The minimum reduction in flavonoid contents were found in shade drying in cold (3.94%) and hot (3.70%) aqueous extract, whereas maximum reduction in cold (13.15%) and hot (13.58%) aqueous extracts by cabinet drying. The alkaloids, steroid, saponin and tannin recorded their highest values in cabinet drying, i.e., 2.61, 0.72, 2.21 and 2.03 g/100 g, respectively over sun and shade drying.