Rapid screening of antioxidant activity of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extracts obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide at different extraction conditions.

Sage herb (Salvia officinalis L.) was extracted at supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) conditions with carbon dioxide at different parameters and the extracts tested on their antioxidant activity (AA). SFE of sage herb at 35 MPa pressure was found to be an effective method to obtain pure extracts. The yields of the extracts were substantially increased by using 1% of entrainer solvent ethanol. The fractionation of sage extract was a complex procedure in terms of extract distribution between separators operating at various pressure and temperature conditions. It was also proved by testing the AA of the extracts in rapeseed oil. The effect of the extracts on the rapeseed oil weight gain varied in a wide range (from 'very low' to 'high') depending on the fractionation conditions. Preliminary results showed that to obtain more effective antioxidant fractions separation steps should be started at 10 MPa lower pressure than that used for the extraction.