Antioxidant activity of extracts from roasted wheat germ

Solvents extracts of roasted wheat germ, an actual waste stream of wheat pr ocessing, retarded the autoxidation of corn oil stored at 60 degrees C. Bes t stabilisation of stripped corn oil was obtained with an ethanolic extract (antioxidative extract, AGE) from wheat germ that was roasted at 160 degre es C for 20 min. Even high dosages of 20 and 40% AOE did not show prooxidat ive effects. Using accelerated ageing of commercial plant oils, and peroxid e value, conjugated diene hydroperoxide concentration and cc-tocopherol con centration as analytical indicators, a significant improvement of storabili ty was demonstrated for each oil. Results indicate the presence of classes I and II antioxidants in ethanolic AOE of wheat germ. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.