Oxidative stability of sunflower oil supplemented with carnosic acid compared with synthetic antioxidants during accelerated storage

In vitro antioxidant activities and protective effects in stabilising sunflower oil of three rosemary extracts high in carnosic acid (CA) were tested. The CA contents (w/w) of the extracts were 24.9% (CA25), 60.5% (CA60) and 98.3% (CA98). Total phenolic contents of CA25 and CA60 were (3.58 ± 0.026 g/100 g) and (8.20 ± 0.027 g/100 g), (3.91 ± 0.029 g/100 g) and (8.10 ± 0.056 g/100 g) expressed in gallic acid and catechin equivalents, respectively. Reducing power of CA and other antioxidants at 0.5 mg/ml followed the order of l-ascorbic acid > CA98 > TBHQ > BHA > CA60 > BHT > CA25. The IC50 values in the DPPH assay obtained for CA25, CA60, CA98, BHA, BHT and TBHQ were 0.30 ± 0.002, 0.20 ± 0.003, 0.12 ± 0.002, 0.19 ± 0.002, 0.42 ± 0.010, and 0.09 ± 0.001 mg/ml, respectively.Protective effects of CA in stabilising sunflower oil were tested, compared to synthetic antioxidants, by measuring their peroxide values, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, free fatty acid contents and p-anisidine value during accelerated storage. Results indicated that CA exhibited stronger antioxidant activity in sunflower oil than BHT and BHA. However, its antioxidant activity was less than that of TBHQ.