antioxidant activity of five iranian salvia species

methanolic extracts of five native species of salvia from the labiatae family were evaluated for antioxidant activity in low-erucic acid rapeseed oil using the schaal oven test at 60°c, with deterioration monitored by determination of peroxide value, conjugated diene content and p-anisidine value. the activity of the salvia extracts was compared with that of tbhq, ascorbyl palmitate, and extracts from sage and rosemary. the antioxidant activity of salvia atropatana bunge, salvia reuteriana boiss, salvia virgata jacq, and salvia hydrangea dc ex benth. was not satisfactory. however, salvia verticil/ata l. proved to be a potent source of natural antioxidants.