Ethanol/water (7:3) extracts of the plant species Anthriscus sylvestris possess antioxidant activity. Separation and identification of antioxidant components by thin-layer and column chromatography and spectral analysis demonstrated that quercetin and apigenin appeared to be the main flavonoid species in Anthriscus sylvestris. Rutin was one of the major quercetin glycosides. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined by infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Ethanolic extract (70%) of A. sylvestris showed concentration-dependent, strong antioxidant activity as determined by the Schaal Oven test of lard at 60~ Rancimat analysis at 100~ showed that the antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract of A. sylvestris was superior to quercetin, apigenin, or a tocopherol mixture.JAOCS 73, 773-776 (1996).KEY WORDS: Anthriscus sylvestris, antioxidant activity, apigenin, flavonoids, quercetin, rutin, tocopherol.The possible toxicity of synthetic antioxidants (1,2) has increased interest in preparing antioxidants from natural products by extraction, fractionation, and purification. Flavonoids are of particular interest among naturally occurring substances with potential antioxidant activity. In addition to essential oils, flavonoids are characteristic constituents of a great number of species of the Apiaceae (3). The Serbian plant species Anthriscus sylvestris, family Apiaceae, has been widely used in folk medicine as tonics, diuretics, and salad dressing (4,5). A preliminary study of its chemical composition was made on lignans of the root (6) and essential oils, fatty acids, and sterols of the flowers and leaves (7). Chemical analysis of the aerial parts ofA. sylvestris, collected in the vicinity of Belgrade, have shown the presence of three flavonoid compounds--apigenin, quercetin, and rutin (8). It is known that flavonoids are not only soluble in water-alcoholic mixtures, but also have high solubility in fats and oils, which can promote their use as antioxidants in edible oils (9).As natural sources of antioxidants are gaining importance for food technology (! 0), the present study was initiated to identify flavonoids in A. sylvestris with antioxidant activity and to evaluate their potential as antioxidants.

An aqueous-enzymatic extraction process of plum kernel oil was investigated on a laboratory scale, varying several processing parameters, with main emphasis on the oil yield. Efficient recovery of oil was related to three operations: pretreatment, enzymatic reaction and separation of oil. Maximum oil yield of about 70% (estimated by the Soxhler method) was obtained at an enzyme concentration of 0.So/o, extraction temperature of 45"C, pH 4.5, treatment time of 2 h and dilution ratio of 1 : 4. The aqueous-enzymatic extraction did not have any determining effect on the fatty acid composition, tocopherol composition, iodine value and saponification value. The free fatty acid content was higher, while the phosphatide content and peroxide value were lower in the oil extracted by the aqueous-enzymatic process as compared to the Soxhler extracted samples.WaBrig-enzymatische Extraktion von Pflaumenkernol. Die wa0rig-enzymatische Extraktion von Pflaumenkernol wurde unter Laborbedingungen, bei unterschiedlichen technologischen Parametern mit Schwerpunkt auf den Olertrag untersucht. Eine effektive Olgewinnung basiert auf drei Behandlungen: Vorbehandlung, enzymatische Reaktion und Olseparation. Der maximale Olertrag von etwa 70% (bestimmt nach der Soxhler Methode) wurde bei einer Enzymkonzentration von 0,5%, einer Extraktionstemperatur von 4 5 T , einem pH-Wert von 4,5, einer Behandlungszeit von 2 h und einem Verdiinnungsverhaltnis von 1 : 4 erhalten. Die waBrig-enzymatische Extraktion hatte keine bedeutenden Effekte auf die Fettsaureund Tocopherolzusammensetzung und auf die Jod-und Saponifikationszahl. Der Gehalt an freien Fettsauren war hoher, wobei der Phosphatidgehalt und die Peroxidzahl in durch wa0rig-enzymatische Behandlung extrahierten Olen niedriger waren als in den nach Soxhler extrahierten Proben.

A study was carried out on the antioxidative activity of some selected plants: Hyperrium perforatum L., Oenothera depressa Greene, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Pastinara sativa L., Pimpinella saxifraga L., Thymus marschallianus Willd., Artemisia maritima L. and Oenothera biennis L., Lard prepared by wet procedure served as the substrate. Using ethanolic extracts of plant materials, the best results were obtained with Thymus marschallianus Willd. and Oenothera biennis L. at 60°C. Antioxidative activity of powdered plants was studied on the Rancimat apparatus at 100°C, and increased induction periods were observed for all investigated samples. The extracts of Thymus marschallianus Willd. and Oenothera biennis L. were also investigated in the emulsion of linoleic acid and the course of oxidation was followed by measuring the decolouration rate of β‐carotene emulsion. In addition, the antioxidative activity of the Oenothera biennis L. extracts was studied at 60°C (determination of the peroxide number) and at 100°C (Rancimat) using lard as substrate. The synergistic action of citric acid in the combination with the Oenothera biennis L. extract was investigated under the same conditions.

~~ Fraction 1 2 3 4 Mirjana B u d i n c ' e v i C , i'. V r b a S k i , J . T u r k u l o v a n d E t e l k a D i m i C * Institute of Chemistry and Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, YugoslaviaParticles size (mm) 2 0.63 0.40 -0.63 0.25 -0.40 5 0.25Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts of the dried unripe fruit of Osage orange (Maclura auranriaca Nutt.) was studied using raw sunflower oil as substrate. Antioxidant activity of both the ethanolic extract and powder of the same plant was also assessed on the basis of measurements on the Rancimat apparatus with lard as the substrate and by determination of the peroxide number. It was established that the antioxidant activity in the case of powder increased with a decrease in the particle size. The antioxidative power of the powder of the Osage orange fruit was compared with that of powders of following plants:Asclepias syriaca L.. Asfrugalus onobrychis L., Thymus marschallianus Willd., and Oenorhera biennis L., using the Rancimat apparatus. Citric acid exhibited a strong synergistic effect in the combination with both the ethanolic extract and powder obtained from the fruit of Maclura auranriaca Nutt.