Rose hip seed oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as
tocopherols, carotenoids, sterols, phospholipids, and phenolic compounds.
On the other hand, due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids
this oil is prone to oxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the
influence of natural antioxidant such as pomegranate peel extract and its
combination with butylated hydroxytoluene as commonly used synthetic
antioxidant, on the stability of rose hip oil. The stability of samples
without and with different antioxidants was monitored through fatty acid
composition analysis and measuring the quality and stability parameters of
the oil (peroxide value, p-anisidine value, thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances inhibition, total phenolic content and antiradical activity)
during the storage period of 12 days at 65?C. Pomegranate peel extract (0.1
%) inhibited more effectively the second stage of oxidation than butylated
hydroxytoluene (0.02 %), while the first stage of oxidation was prevented
better by synthetic antioxidant. Further-more, the addition of pomegranate
peel extract increased the total phenolic content of the rose hip oil as
well as its antiradical activity. Thus, pomegranate peel extract can be used
as a potent natural antioxidant for stabilization of beneficial but unstable
rose hip oil.