Rosmarinus officinalis: antioxidant capacity and identification of bioactive compounds

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) shows antinociceptive, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidepressant and antiulcerogenic properties1,2,3. Those activities are related to rosemary bioctive compounds4. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluated the antioxidant activity of carnosic and rosmarinic acids, extracted from rosemary dry leaves. Extraction by maceration, infusion, soxhlet and ultrasound techniques with ethanol 60% were performed and compared. HPLC method5, and DPPH6 for antioxidant activity and Folin-Ciocalteau7 assays for identification of polyphenol content. Retention time was compared to literature, and only rosmarinic acid was identified in the samples. The range of percentage for DPPH inhibition and polyphenol content were 79.3-86.8% and 983.01-4444.92 mg GAE/100g. For both assays infusion extract showed the better results. It was possible to conclude the rosemary has good antioxidant capacity and can procced to other assays.