The antioxidant activity of different extracts of coriander (Coriandrum sativum), isolated and/or combined with itself and BHT, was investigated. The etheric, ethanolic and aqueous extracts obtained by sequential extraction were evaluated for antioxidant action in a b-carotene/acid linoléico model system and the active compounds identified. The antioxidant synergistic effect between aqueous and etheric extracts was evaluated using factorial 2² plan. The antioxidant action of the extracts aqueous, etheric and ethanolic was 69.83%, 61.89% and 40.50%, respectively. Phenolic compounds were detected in two first extracts and carotenoids in the etheric. Combining different concentrations of etheric and aqueous extracts, the percentage of inhibition of the oxidation was inferior to that of the isolated ones, demonstrating that was no synergistic effect that occurred when the aqueous extract was associated with BHT. The ability of the aqueous and etheric extracts in delaying the oxidation can be attributed, respectively, to its phenolic and carotenoids constituent. The aqueous extract can be considered as an antioxidant potential, whose action can together be intensified to the employed being with BHT.
coriander; synergism; antioxidant
