By-products of medicinal and aromatic plant processing - a useful resource for antioxidants

The aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant potential of promising by-products of aromatic and medicinal plant processing. Industrial products were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity by determination of polyphenols and the TEAC-value (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity). A relatively high potential was demonstrated for lemon balm, oregano, thyme and marjoram. During our investigations it has been shown that selected by-products of medicinal and aromatic plant processing are suitable as raw material for a practical production of antioxidant extracts and are therefore useful resources for antioxidants. Extracts that were specifically produced in this project were mixed with a cosmetic testing system and the antioxidant activity was investigated on the skin. For all tested extracts, a protective effect against UV-radiation was detected.