MECHANICAL EXTRACTION OF PLANT ANTIOXIDANTS BY MEANS OF OILS

A simple mechanical process was developed for extracting natural antio xidants from plant materials with a food-grade oil as carrier, avoidin g the use of organic solvents. Oily extracts with a high extraction yi eld could be obtained by the combined application of heat, water, enzy mes and mechanical energy. After an appropriate pretreatment, the plan t material was contacted with an oil in a plough-share mixer (Lodige) followed by a pressing on a piston press (Carver) which resulted in a limpid oil immediately. Different plant materials, preferably rosemary or sage or mixtures of several spices, were used. Carriers were chose n among high oleic oils, but qualitatively the best extracts were obta ined with MCT oil, owing to the high polarity and the excellent oxidat ive stability of this carrier.