Methyl Carnosate Research Articles

Nine-dimensional bioprofiles of Tunisian sages (Salvia officinalis, S. aegyptiaca and S. verbenaca) by high-performance thin-layer chromatography – effect-directed analyses

Ethyl acetate extracts of Tunisian Salvia aegyptiaca and S. verbenaca aerial parts and S. officinalis leaves were examined via bioanalytical profiling using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) combined with nine bioactivity assays, namely antibacterial (Aliivibrio fischeri, Bacillus subtilis, and Rhodococcus fascians), antifungal (Bipolaris sorokiniana, and Fusarium avenaceum), radical scavenging (DPPH•), and enzyme inhibitory (α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and lipase) ones. The screening, using toluene - ethyl acetate – methanol 6:3:0.5 (V/V/V) as a mobile phase, revealed five bioactive zones (a–e) that were analyzed by HPTLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Zones b and c, observed exclusively in S. officinalis, were active in all assays except α-glucosidase, and only c inhibited F. avenaceum. Compounds in these zones were identified by HPLC-high resolution tandem MS (LC-HRMS/MS) as rosmanol/epi-rosmanol and methyl carnosate, respectively. In the bioactive zones a and e, corosolic/maslinic acid and ursolic/oleanolic acid isomer pairs were present, which could be identified in all three Salvia species after their HPTLC separation using pre-chromatographic derivatization with iodine and MS detection. The triterpenes inhibited B. subtilis and R. fascians bacteria and α-glucosidase enzyme. Linoleic and linolenic acids were detected in zone d, which showed strong lipase inhibition in all three sage species.

Antioxidants of Salvia aegyptiaca L. residues depending on geographical origin

Abstract Variations in polyphenolic contents and antioxidant capacities depending on the collection sites of Salvia aegyptiaca, were examined. Total polyphenolics assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure reached the values of 79.67 and 77.91 mg GAE/g DW in post-distilled Salvia aegyptiaca from Enfida and Chott Meriem. HPLC analysis permitted the identification of 14 phenolic components. Methyl carnosate (416.29–4052.24 µg/g DW), rosmarinic acid (562.46–1172.24 µg/g DW) and apigenin-7-glucoside (512.96–774.02 µg/g DW) were detected as the main phenolics. Samples of Chott Meriem were characterized by the best antioxidant performance as evaluated by DPPH (IC50, 29.62 µg/mL), ABTS (198.48 µM TE/mg) and FRAP (155.34 mM Fe(II)/mg) assays. Also, significant (p

Biological effects of Salvia Officinalis leaf extract on murine myeloma cells

Background: In the Mediterranean region, Salvia officinalis plant is widely used and routinely added to food for a traditional culinary utilization, and moreover, from long time, it is recognized to possess pharmacological activities. Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the biological properties of S. officinalis leaf ethanol extracts and a thin layer chromatography-isolated spot on murine myeloma cells. Materials and Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tests were carried out to determinate the EC50 of both the leaf extracts and the isolated spot; the isolated spot was also investigated by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence were used for morphological studies on treated P3X murine myeloma cells. Results: LC-MS and NMR techniques identified methyl carnosate, a methyl derivative of carnosic acid, as the main component of spot B. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence investigations carried out on murine myeloma cells treated for 20 h with EC50 values of spot B revealed some changes both in the cellular morphology and in the microtubular array. Conclusions: The present studies indicate that S. officinalis extracts have biological effects on murine myeloma cells and identify methyl carnosate as an interesting molecule for further investigations on human cell lines and possibly on cancer prevention. Abbreviations used: EC50: Effective concentration 50, LC-MS: Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, NMR: Nuclear magnetic resonance, TLC: Thyn layer chromatography, MTT: 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, RF: Retention factor, MS/Ms: Tandem mass spectrometry, dqf-COSY: double quantum filter COSY

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of Rosmarinus officinalis L on U937 and CaCo-2 Cells.

Rosmarinus officinalis L., a medicinal herb from the labiates family, has been reported to have potential benefit in the treatment and prevention of several diseases. In particular its phenolics have demonstrated protective effects on various types of cancer through several mechanisms. The present study aimed to determine the effects of rosemary phenolic extracts on human cell functions, with particular regard to their anti-proliferative properties in three cell types U937, CaCo-2 and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The radical scavenging and Ferric reducing abilities of the extracts have been assessed as well as their cyto-toxicity and effects on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. About 13 compounds were identified with dominance of rosmarinic acid in the methanolic extract and phenolic diterpens in the ethyl acetate fraction (Carnosol, Carnosic acid and methyl Carnosate). The total polyphenolic content was important in the first extract with 2.589 ± 0.005 g/100 g in gallic acid equivalent compared to 0.763 ± 0.005 g/100 g. The methanolic fraction displayed higher antioxidant activity (DPPHIC50: 0.510 mg/mL and FRAP: 1.714 ± 0.068 mmol Fe2+/g) while ethyl acetate showed pronounced antiproliferative effects (IC50: 14.85 ± 0.20µg/mL and 14.95 ± 2.32 µg/mL respectively for U937 and CaCo-2 cells). The anti-proliferative effect was associated with a cell cycle arrest in S phase for U937 (62% of the population at 5 µg/mL) with a concomitant decrease in G1 and G2/M phases. Tested extracts displayed in addition early apoptotic effects in U937 and late apoptosis in CaCo-2 cells. The obtained data indicate that the identified phenolics are at least partially responsible for the observed cytotoxicity.

Changes in phenolic profiling and antioxidant capacity of Salvia aegyptiaca L. by-products during three phenological stages

The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of the phenophase on the total phenolic contents, the concentration of individual phenolics and consequently on the antioxidant capacity of Salvia aegyptiaca by-products. The flowering period revealed the highest accumulation of total phenolic contents (69.49, 88.41 mg GAE/g DW) in the methanolic extracts of S. aegyptiaca post-distilled aerial parts, as estimated spectrophotometrically. The HPLC allowed the identification of fifteen phenolic compounds classified into phenolic acids, phenolic diterpenes and flavonoids. Rosmarinic acid (757.17–1702.82 μg/g DW) and methyl carnosate (775.42–1092.50 μg/g DW) were the most abundant compounds, being the highest at the flowering phase. The DPPH and ABTS-radical scavenging assays and FRAP reducing power test exhibited good antioxidant properties with the best performance detected in the course of the flowering stage. S. aegyptiaca by-products would be able to promise sources of natural products such as phenolic antioxidant adjunct for food processing.

Antioxidant properties and evaluation of phytochemical composition of Salvia verbenaca L. extracts at different developmental stages.

Changes in the contents and composition of polyphenolics and resulting antioxidant activities of S. verbenaca by-products were investigated at three phenological stages (flowering, early fruiting and late fruiting stages). The highest accumulation of total phenolics was detected at the flowering stage (58.36 mg GAE/g DW). HPLC analysis of methanolic extracts showed the prevalence of methyl carnosate (821.45-919.82 μg/g DW) and rosmarinic acid (544.51-649.26 μg/g DW). Phenolic diterpenes (1056.90-1148.42 μg/g DW) was the most represented class of compounds. Three complementary tests namely, DPPH(•) (IC50 value, 49.22 μg/mL) and ABTS(•+)-radical scavenging assays (146.86 μM TE/mg) and FRAP reducing power test (188.93 mM Fe(II)/mg) were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and showed the best performance at the early fruiting period. The current study evidenced the significant effect of phenophase on antioxidants and contributed to valorize S. verbenaca extracts as a source of functional phenolic compounds.

Effects of Some Plant Extracts on the Oxidative Stability of Canola Oil and Its Purified Triacylglycerols

AbstractIn this study, the effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and bay (Laurus nobilis) extracts on the oxidative stability of canola oil and its purified triacylglycerols (TAGs) were studied. The effects of extraction solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) on the extraction yields, phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of these plant extracts were also determined. Methanol extracts had the highest total phenolics (78.4–177.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extracts), with the exception of thyme extract. In linoleic acid emulsion, antioxidant activities of all plant extracts were above 89.7% at the studied concentrations. The highest 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities were found for methanol extracts. There was no significant difference between induction periods of canola oils supplemented with ethanol, methanol or acetone extracts of rosemary, thyme and bay (P > 0.05) in differential scanning calorimeter. Protection factors of rosemary and thyme extracts were higher than those of the sage and bay extracts in canola oil and its purified TAGs in Rancimat test.Practical ApplicationsRosemary, sage, thyme and bay extracts had high antioxidant and antiradical activities. They contain many bioactive components such as, carnosic acid, carnosol, methyl carnosate, rosmarinic acid, rosmanol, thymol, carvacrol and hydroxycinnamic acid. In addition to this, when the rosemary and thyme extracts were added into canola oil, they increased induction period of oil. These herbal extracts can be incorporated into oils or lipid‐containing foods to prevent oxidation.

Methyl Carnosate, an Antibacterial Diterpene Isolated from Salvia officinalis Leaves

Ethanolic extracts of Salvia officinalis leaves demonstrated antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus. Fractionation of the extracts led to the isolation of the most active antibacterial compound, which, from spectroscopic and LC-MS evidence, was proved to be the diterpene, methyl carnosate.

Profiling of essential oils and polyphenolics of Salvia argentea and evaluation of its by-products antioxidant activity

The objective of this study was to examine the chemical composition of essential oils and polyphenolics and to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of S. argentea by-products. Fourty seven compounds, representing (90.13, 92.00%) of the total oil, were identified. The major components were showed to be viridiflorol (18.75, 26.93%), manool (6.15, 13.59%), α-thujone (7.30, 8.06%), p-cymene (4.17, 6.39%) and α-humulene (4.13, 5.28%). Post-distilled dry plants were considered for HPLC analysis and antioxidant capacities estimation. S. argentea methanolic extracts from both collection sites (Sers and Makther) were dominated by methyl carnosate (1377.03, 715.41μg/g DW), rosmarinic acid (941.81, 613.25μg/g DW) and naringenin (432.00, 356.10μg/g DW). Higher antioxidant activity was observed in S. argentea post-distilled samples collected in Sers, as assessed by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP. Significant correlations were detected between several phenolic compounds, total phenolic amounts and the DPPH and FRAP assays. Variations in volatile compounds, phenolics and antioxidant capacity were significant between the two analyzed collection sites.

Supercritical rosemary extracts, their antioxidant activity and effect on hepatic tumor progression

The use of supercritical fluid technology as an innovative technology to extract bioactive compounds has grown considerably in recent decades. Particularly, the recovery of antioxidants from different herbs is a matter of continuous research and development. Antioxidants can protect cells against the effects of free radicals and thus, play an important role in heart illness, cancer and other diseases.Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been recognized as one of the Lamiaceae plant with many important biological activities. Particularly, large antioxidant power has been recognized in rosemary and main substances related with this activity were the phenolic diterpenes such as carnosol, rosmanol, carnosic acid, methyl carnosate, and phenolic acids such as the rosmarinic and caffeic acids. Moreover, carnosic acid and carnosol are recognized as the most abundant antioxidants present in rosemary.In this work, supercritical fluid technology was applied to produce rosemary extracts with different compositions and thus, with different bioactivity properties. Selected extracts, from the variety of samples obtained, were used to study the capability of rosemary supercritical extracts to inhibit the proliferation of human liver carcinoma cells. These extracts showed a dose-dependent effect on inhibiting the proliferation of human hepatoma cells. Moreover, observed citostaticity appeared to be significantly influenced by their different composition, suggesting a relevant role of the technology to produce the extracts and the consequently obtained compositions on the potential antitumoral activity of rosemary.

Inhibition of Gastric Lipase as a Mechanism for Body Weight and Plasma Lipids Reduction in Zucker Rats Fed a Rosemary Extract Rich in Carnosic Acid

BackgroundRosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extracts (REs) exhibit hepatoprotective, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used in the food industry. REs are rich in carnosic acid (CA) and carnosol which may be responsible for some of the biological activities of REs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether inhibition of lipase activity in the gut may be a mechanism by which a RE enriched in CA (40%) modulates body weight and lipids levels in a rat model of metabolic disorders and obesity.Methods and Principal FindingsRE was administered for 64 days to lean (fa/+) and obese (fa/fa) female Zucker rats and body weight, food intake, feces weight and blood biochemical parameters were monitored throughout the study. Lipase activity (hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylbutyrate) was measured in the gastrointestinal tract at the end of the study and the contents of CA, carnosol and methyl carnosate were also determined. Sub-chronic administration of RE moderately reduced body weight gain in both lean and obese animals but did not affect food intake. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin levels were also markedly decreased in the lean animals supplemented with RE. Importantly, lipase activity was significantly inhibited in the stomach of the RE-supplemented animals where the highest content of intact CA and carnosol was detected.ConclusionsOur results confirm that long-term administration of RE enriched in CA moderates weight gain and improves the plasma lipids profile, primarily in the lean animals. Our data also suggest that these effects may be caused, at least in part, by a significant inhibition of gastric lipase and subsequent reduction in fat absorption.

Testing and Enhancing thein VitroBioaccessibility and Bioavailability ofRosmarinus officinalisExtracts with a High Level of Antioxidant Abietanes

An antioxidant-enriched extract (RE) was obtained from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) by supercritical fluid extraction to be used as an ingredient to design functional foods. The optimized mixture (42 mg RE g(-1) sunflower oil) was submitted to in vitro digestion and absorption tests (using Caco2 cells) to investigate the effect of these processes on its DPPH scavenging activity and also whether its major abietanes (tricyclic diterpenes) might be bioaccessible and bioavailable. Results indicated that supplementation of the rosemary extract with sunflower oil and lecithin (37 mg g(-1)) enhanced abietanes micellation (almost 2-fold). In vitro digestion of the mixture including RE, sunflower oil, and lecithin reduced 50% the bioaccesibility in terms of antioxidant activity. Bioavailability was 31%. It was evidenced that this activity was not due to the original levels of carnosol, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate (which only 47% remained after digestion) but due to their derivatives and digestion products.

A kinetic model for evaluation of the antioxidant activity of several rosemary extracts

The antioxidant properties of phenolic diterpenes in several rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) extract formulations were investigated. Carnosic acid, carnosol and methyl carnosate were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and carnosic acid was found to be the most abundant phenolic compound in the rosemary extracts investigated. To describe the antioxidant properties the free radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH ) test and the antioxidant activity coefficient in the β-carotene–linoleic acid emulsion system, C AA , were assayed. In both assays, extracts with higher total phenolic contents were superior in antioxidant activity. To interpret the antioxidant properties the kinetic approach was used. A power function was found to best represent the time dependence of the content of free radicals scavenged, as well as the content of β-carotene bleached in the presence of rosemary extracts. The rate of free radical scavenging, R S , and the rate of β-carotene bleaching, R B , were estimated and suggested as new parameters to describe the antioxidant activity of rosemary extracts. The kinetic data were interpreted in terms of differences in the reactivity of antioxidant compounds.

Supercritical Fluid Extracts of Rosemary Leaves Exhibit Potent Anti-Inflammation and Anti-Tumor Effects

Supercritical fluid SF-CO2 treatment of Rosemarinus officinalis L. fresh leaves under optimum conditions (80 degrees C at 5,000 psi) yielded 5.3% of extract supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)-80, in which five major active principles were identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), viz., rosmarinic acid, carnosol, 12-methoxycarnosic acid, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate. Total phenolic content was 155.8 mg/ gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g in SFE-80, which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging of 81.86% at 0.01 mg/ml. When treated in RAW 264.7, apparent dose-dependent NO inhibition occurred at dosages of 1.56 to 6.25 microg/ml, and more drastically at 12.5 and 25 microg/ml. At 0.5 to 5.0 microg/ml, SFE-80 exhibited dose-dependent viability suppression and significant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in Hep 3B, whereas no effect was found in Chang liver cells. Furthermore, no effect was observed in RAW 264.7 at dosages of 3.13 to 25 microg/ml, indicating that SFE-80 exhibited a noncytotoxic character. Conclusively, rosemary can be considered an herbal anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.

Low-Density Lipoprotein, Collagen, and Thrombin Models Reveal that Rosemarinus officinalis L. Exhibits Potent Antiglycative Effects

Using the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), collagen, and thrombin models, we report here that the rosemary extracts (REs), either the aqueous (REw) or the acetonic (REA), all possessed many antiglycation-related features, and the effective concentrations required were as follows: 0.1 mg/mL for suppressing the relative electrophoretic mobility, 1.3 microg/mL for anticonjugated diene induction, 0.5 mg/mL for inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances production, 0.1 mg/mL for AGEs (advanced glycation end products) formation, 0.1 mg/mL to block glucose incorporation, and 0.05 mg/mL as an effective anti-antithrombin III. Using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, we identified five major constituents among eight major peaks, including rosmarinic acid, carnosol, 12-methoxycarnosic acid, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate. In the LDL model, REA was proven to be more efficient than REw; yet, the reverse is true for the collagen and the thrombin III models, the reason of which was ascribed to the higher lipid-soluble antioxidant content (such as rosmarinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid, 12-methoxycarnosic acid and methyl carnosate) in REA than in REw and the different surface lipid characteristics between LDL and collagen; although to act as anti-AGEs, both extracts were comparable. To assist the evidence, a larger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capability with less total polyphenolic content was found in REA. We conclude that rosemary is an excellent multifunctional therapeutic herb; by looking at its potential potent antiglycative bioactivity, it may become a good adjuvant medicine for the prevention and treatment of diabetic, cardiovascular, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In vitro antioxidant analysis of supercritical fluid extracts from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Different supercritical fluid extraction conditions were tested on rosemary leaves using a pilot-plant-scale extractor. Each of them provided two separated fractions which were characterized chemically by liquid chromatography–diode-array detection–mass spectrometry using electrospray in the positive mode. Twelve compounds were identified, including phenolic diterpenes and flavonoids. Owing to the lack of available standards, only carnosic acid could be quantified. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) test and the β-carotene bleaching test was used to study the differences in behavior of antioxidants in an emulsified medium for some of the extracts obtained. The results of the correlation studies to examine the relationship between the antioxidant activity (EC50), obtained by using the DPPH test, and the concentration of all the compounds detected in the extracts showed that carnosic acid was the more correlated compound, with a coefficient of correlation of −0.87. Using forward stepwise multiple linear regression, carnosic acid, methyl carnosate and carnosol were the compounds selected to predict the mentioned activity, with a value of 0.95 for the coefficient of determination.

Seco-Hinokiol, a New Abietane Diterpenoid from Rosmarinus officinalis

seco-Hinokiol (1), a new abietane diterpenoid, has been isolated from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. To our knowledge, this is the fourth report of a seco-abietane having been isolated. In addition, methyl carnosate (4) was synthesized from carnosic acid (3), and detailed NMR spectroscopic data are provided to clarify previous literature reports.

Determination of phenolic antioxidant compounds produced by calli and cell suspensions of sage ( Salvia officinalisL.)

Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) calli were established by culturing internodal segments, excised from aseptic seedlings, on MS basal medium gellied with agar and supplemented with 0.05 mg/L dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in presence of benzyladenine (BA) or zeatin (ZEA) or kinetin (KIN), at 1.5 mg/L. Suspended cells were established by transferring one callus to 50 mL of liquid MS basal medium devoid of agar and containing the same type of hormonal supplementation used in respective calli growth. The highest growth of calli and suspensions occurred with 1.5 mg/L ZEA. However, with this cytokinin supplementation, as well as with 1.5 mg/L KIN, both in presence of 0.05 mg/L 2,4-D, suspensions differentiated small root shaped structures. Well shaped, majority single cell suspensions were formed under the effect of 0.05 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L KIN. Calli grown with 0.05 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.5 mg/L BA and suspended cells grown with 0.05 mg/L 2,4-D and ZEA or KIN at 1.5 mg/L, or KIN at 0.5 mg/L, were searched for phenolics production. Twelve phenolic compounds were identified in calli: gallic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, hesperetin, epirosmanol, hispidulin, genkwanin, carnosol, carnosic acid, and methyl carnosate. With the exception for genkwanin and epirosmanol all of these phenolic compounds were also produced by the sage suspension cultures grown in the presence of 1.5 or 0.5 mg/L KIN. Genkwanin was the only phenolic absent in the suspensions grown with 1.5 ZEA. Suspended cells, grown with 0.5 mg/L KIN, and calli cultures showed the highest specific accumulation of the total phenolics, with rosmarinic acid representing 94-97%.

Subcritical water extraction of antioxidant compounds from rosemary plants.

Subcritical water extraction at several temperatures ranging from 25 to 200 degrees C has been studied to selectively extract antioxidant compounds from rosemary leaves. An exhaustive characterization of the fractions obtained using subcritical water at different temperatures has been carried out by LC-MS, and the antioxidant activities of the extracts have been measured by a free radical method (DPPH). Results indicate high selectivity of the subcritical water toward the most active compounds of rosemary such as carnosol, rosmanol, carnosic acid, methyl carnosate, and some flavonoids such as cirsimaritin and genkwanin. The antioxidant activity of the fractions obtained by extraction at different water temperatures was very high, with values around 11.3 microg/mL, comparable to those achieved by SFE of rosemary leaves. A study of the effect of the temperature on the extraction efficiency of the most typical rosemary antioxidant compounds has been performed.

Antioxidant activity of sage (Salvia officinalis and S fruticosa) and oregano (Origanum onites and O indercedens) extracts related to their phenolic compound content

AbstractIn this study the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of oregano and sage samples was tested. Samples of oregano belonged to Origanum onites and O indercedens species, whilst samples of sage belonged to Salvia officinalis and S fruticosa species. Two methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of sage and oregano extracts: the crocin test and the Rancimat test. The methanolic extracts were also analysed by HPLC for the qualitative/quantitative determination of phenolic compounds. The total phenolic compound content of oregano samples showed no significant differences between the two species, but rosmarinic acid was present in higher amount in O indercedens. Carvacrol content sharply differentiated flowers from leaves. Samples of O indercedens had a higher antioxidant activity evaluated by the crocin test, whereas no differences were evidenced by the Rancimat test. For sage samples, carnosic acid and methyl carnosate showed a significant difference between the two species, with S fruticosa samples having a higher content than S officinalis samples. Samples of S fruticosa also had a higher antioxidant activity evaluated by the crocin test. The antioxidant activities of sage samples were, on average, higher than those of oregano samples. Some samples of sage had a very high antioxidant activity, with induction times more than 10‐fold higher than that of lard used as the reference sample.© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry