Antioxidant activity of pilot‐plant alcoholic and supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of thyme

Leaves and flowering tops of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) were extracted with ethyl alcohol and supercritical carbon dioxide. Antioxidant activity was measured in sunflower oil at 0.3, 0.6 and 1% concentrations of extracts by oven test and Rancimat method. The activities of extracts were compared to those of butylated hydroxytoluene at 0.01 and 0.1% level. The ethanolic extract showed a slightly higher antioxidative effect than that obtained by supercritical fluid extraction. The effectiveness of both extracts added at 0.6% level were equal to that of 0.1% of butylated hydroxytoluene.