[The application of microwave energy in preparing medicinal plant drugs. 1].

Using a specially constructed microwave device, containing a steady-state-broadcasting magnetron that is infinitely adjustable within a range of 100 to 1200 W, the applicability of microwave energy for drying medicinal plants was investigated. When optimising the drying parameters (e.g. microwave power, time of irradiation, mass of plant material, thickness of layer) most of the obtained leave, flower, herb and root drugs showed a significant better appearance (colour) than the air dried drugs.