Effectiveness of natural antioxidants in sunflower oil

An efficiencies of natural antioxidants, especially carotenoids and mixtures of tocopherols and carotenoids were investigated. Their antioxidant effect was studied on a sample of sunflower oil. Oxidation level was measured on the basis of weight increase, peroxide value and total oxidation products determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The degradation of carotenoids was measured by spectrophotometric method. The samples were subjected to a photo-oxidation and autoxidation in the dark. A significant antioxidant effect of apocarotenal and canthaxanthin was observed, while P-carotene seemed to be less effective. Significant antioxidant activities of delta-tocopherol and a combination of delta-tocopherol and P-carotene were also proved.