Antioxidant activity of horehound (Marrubium vulgare L.) grown in Lithuania

Acetone extracts (AE), deodorised acetone extracts (DAE), and deodorised water extracts (DWE) from leaves of horehound (Marrubium vulgare L. ) were tested for their antioxidant activity in rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) oil at 80 °C. Well investigated antioxidants containing extracts (AE and DAE) of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) were used for comparison purposes. The effect of the extracts on the edible oil stability was assessed by measuring weight gain, peroxide value, and the UV absorption. The antioxidant activity of AE and DAE of horehound were comparable to the antioxidant activity of AE and DAE of sage. For both plants AE was shown to have better antioxidant properties than DAE. The volatile components of horehound were hydrodistilled and analysed by GC and GC/MS. Totally, 47 components were identified in the essential oil (EO), the main ones being (Z)- β-farnesene, βcaryophyllene, (E)-hex-2-enal, α-humulene, and germacrene D. Thirtynine constituents are reported in M. vulgare for the first time.