The use of a mixture of both enzyme systems was more effective than using them separately. Under optimal conditions, an increase in oil yield of % was achieved, while distillation time was shortened from 8 to 5 hours. The enzyme treatments did not change the qualitative composition of the essential oils. However, significant changes in the percentages of cinnamic aldehyde ( % to %) and cinnamyl acetate ( % to %) were observed. | Journal of Science and Technology 54 (2C) (2016) 479-485 INVESTIGATION OF INENZYME TREATMENTS TO ASSIST EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM THE LEAVES AND BRANCHES OF CINNAMOMUM CASSIA COLLECTED IN YEN BAI PROVINCE Hoang Thi Bich1, *, Le Tat Thanh1, Tran Quoc Toan1, Nguyen Huy Tung1, Le Xuan Duy1, Nguyen Van Tuyen Anh1, Dinh Thi Thu Thuy1, Tran Thi Tuyen1, Do Trung Sy2, Le Mai Huong1, *, Nguyen Quyet Chien2 1 Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 2 Institute of Chemistry, VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi * Email: ; lehuong1258@ Received: 15 June 2016; Accepted for publication: 29 October 2016 ABSTRACT In order to improve the efficiency of essential oil distillation of the leaves and branches from the cassia plant (Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl) growing in Yen Bai province, the effects of enzyme treatments of the plant materials before distillation were investigated using crude laccase obtained from culture medium of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum and Cellic Htech 2 (Novozymes, Denmark), a multienzyme system consisting of cellulase and xylanase. The results showed that enzyme treatments increased oil yield and shorten distillation time. The use of a mixture of both enzyme systems was more effective than using them separately. Under optimal conditions, an increase in oil yield of % was achieved, while distillation time was shortened from 8 to 5 hours. The enzyme treatments did not change the qualitative composition of the essential oils. However, significant changes in the percentages of cinnamic aldehyde ( % to %) and cinnamyl acetate ( % to %) were observed. Keywords: enzyme assisted extraction, cassia oil, Cinnamomum cassia, cellulase, laccase. 1. INTRODUCTION Enzyme-assisted extraction is a modern terminology for methods using enzymes to improve the efficiency of extraction processes of valuable natural products [1]. This technique uses a specific .
