Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity and Total Phenols Content in Selected Spices

The total phenols contents and antioxidant activities of alcoholic extractive solutions of Ocimum basilicum (basil), Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Mentha piperita (mint), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Sativa officinalis (sage), Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) and Coriandrum sativum (coriander) were examined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and ACL method, respectively. Extractive alcoholic solutions of above mentioned seven spices were analyzed during a period of five months in order to determine the optimal extraction time when the polyphenolic content was at maximum. The highest total phenolic contents were registered for rosemary (608.37 mg GAE/100 g d.w.), sage (530.66 mg GAE/100g d.w.) and mint (511.87 mg GAE/100g d.w.) In general the optimal extraction time of the total phenolic content was reached after 3 months of maceration, except thyme, tarragon (after two months) and coriander (after one month). The antioxidant capacity ranged between 1410.1 nmols Trolox/g d.w. for rosemary and 4.2560 nmols Trolox/g d.w. for tarragon.