Rapid screening of antioxidant activity of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extracts obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide at different extraction conditions

Sage herb (Salvia officinalis L.) was extracted at supercritical fluid extr action (SFE) conditions with carbon dioxide at different parameters and the extracts tested on their antioxidant activity (AA). SFE of sage herb at 35 MPa pressure was found to be an effective method to obtain pure extracts. The yields of the extracts were substantially increased by using 1% of entr ainer solvent ethanol. The fractionation of sage extract was a complex proc edure in terms of extract distribution between separators operating at vari ous pressure and temperature conditions. It was also proved by testing the AA of the extracts fit rapeseed oil. The effect of the extracts on the rape seed oil weight gain varied in a wide range (from 'very low' to 'high') dep ending on the fractionation conditions. Preliminary results showed that to obtain more effective antioxidant fractions separation steps should be star ted at 10 MPa lower pressure than that used for the extraction.