Antioxidant

Antioxidant herbs, fruits, and vegetables have the potential to reduce oxidation, which can cause free radicals to form.  This can then contribute to aging and disease.

Eat Your Colors!

Antioxidants protect your cells!  They are found in the richly colorful fruits and vegetables that we eat.  Here are some examples:

• RED – Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an alpha-carotene antioxidant.
• ORANGE – Plants like carrots, pumpkins, and squash are high in the antioxidant, beta-carotene.
• YELLOW – Bell pepper is one of the plants highest in vitamn C, a powerful antioxidant.
• GREEN – Matcha green tea powder contains antioxidant polyphenols as do many herbs, like mint, thyme, basil, rosemary, and more…
• BLUE – Many berries, such as blueberries, containing the flavonoid called anthocyanin, well researched for its antioxidant activities.
• PURPLE – Eggplant contains the anthocyanin phytonutrient called nasunin.

Here is a partial list of antioxidant constituents.

• Vitamins A, C, and E
• The mineral, selenium, as found in mushrooms
• Carotenes, including alpha and beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene
• Polyphenols, including a huge list of flavonoids as well as curcumin, xanthones, eugenol, and multiple phenolic acids/esters

Some Food and Drinks High in Antioxidants

Beets

Spinach

Broccoli

Bell Peppers

Carrots

Pumpkins

Squash

Eggplant

Tomatoes

Garlic

Chocolate

Coffee

Red Beans

Artichokes

Pecans

Walnuts

Brazil Nuts

Some Herbs and Spices High in Antioxidants

• Cloves
• Oregano
• Black Pepper
• Peppermint
• Thyme
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Allspice
• Sage
• Vanilla Bean
• Rosehip
• Parsley
• Nutmeg
• Basil

Recipes with Antioxidant Ingredients

Asteraceae Anxiolytics

Calming Herbal Tea

Easy Lavender Tea Recipe

Easy Lemon Balm Tea Recipe

Easy Lemongrass Tea Recipe

Easy Rose Hip Tea Recipe to Help You Relax

Floral Relaxation Bath Blend Recipe

Forest Diffuser Blend Recipe

Grapefruit Aroma to Help Improve Mood

Home Herbal Spa Bath Ideas

How Lemon May Help Boost Mood & Cognition – Plus Home Recipes

Lemon Balm Ade Recipe & Mood Boosting Benefits

Passion Flower Tea to Help Reduce Anxiety

Rose Water and Geranium Calming Face Toner – Spritz on to Help Improve Your Skin and Mood!

Spearmint & Orange – Wake Up Water

Blog Articles

Asteraceae Anxiolytics

Did you know…the aroma of citrus fruits can help reduce depression and anxiety!

Grapefruit Aroma to Help Improve Mood

Home Herbal Spa Bath Ideas

How Lemon May Help Boost Mood & Cognition – Plus Home Recipes

Is Lavender Really Calming?

Passion Flower Tea to Help Reduce Anxiety

Rosemary Pick Me Up

Spearmint & Orange – Wake Up Water

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.

ACAI

• Plasma antioxidant capacity was increased 2-3 times after people ate anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp. From: Mertens-Talcott, S. U., Rios, J., Jilma-Stohlawetz, P., Pacheco-Palencia, L. A., Meibohm, B., Talcott, S. T., & Derendorf, H. (2008). Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 56(17), 7796-7802.

AGRIMONY

• Consumption of agrimony tea for one month reduced lipid levels and inflammation, and showed antioxidant activity in participants.  From:  Ivanova, D., Vankova, D., & Nashar, M. (2013). Agrimonia eupatoria tea consumption in relation to markers of inflammation, oxidative status and lipid metabolism in healthy subjects. Archives of physiology and biochemistry, 119(1), 32-37.

ALLSPICE

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.

ALOE VERA

• In a small study with 10 healthy adults, drinking a supplement with mangosteen, aloe vera, green tea, and multivitamins effectively increased plasma antioxidant levels.  From:  Xie, Z., Sintara, M., Chang, T., & Ou, B. (2015). Functional beverage of Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) enhances plasma antioxidant capacity in healthy adults. Food science & nutrition, 3(1), 32-38.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.
• Aloe had an antioxidant effect in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats.  From:  Rajasekaran, S., Sivagnanam, K., & Subramanian, S. (2005). Antioxidant effect of Aloe vera gel extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Pharmacol Rep, 57(1), 90-6.
• Oxidative stress associated with diabetes was reduced in rats with aloe vera leaf gel extract.  From:  Rajasekaran, S., Sivagnanam, K., & Subramanian, S. (2005). Modulatory effects of Aloe vera leaf gel extract on oxidative stress in rats treated with streptozotocin. Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 57(2), 241-246.
• Studying aloe components in vitro, antioxidant activity was correlated with phenolic content and anti-inflammatory activity was associated with catechin tannins compounds.  From:  Kammoun, M., Miladi, S., Ali, Y. B., Damak, M., Gargouri, Y., & Bezzine, S. (2011). In vitro study of the PLA2 inhibition and antioxidant activities of Aloe vera leaf skin extracts. Lipids in health and disease, 10(1), 30.

AGRIMONY

• Using a smaller particle size increased antioxidant power in extracts made from agrimony, sage and savory.  From:  Gião, M. S., Pereira, C. I., Fonseca, S. C., Pintado, M. E., & Malcata, F. X. (2009). Effect of particle size upon the extent of extraction of antioxidant power from the plants Agrimonia eupatoria, Salvia sp. and Satureja montana. Food Chemistry, 117(3), 412-416.

ANGELICA

• Essential oils from Angelica glauca and A. archangelica have shown antimicrobial and antioxidant activities that could be useful in food preservation. From: Joshi, R. K. (2016). Angelica (Angelica glauca and A. archangelica) Oils. In Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety (pp. 203-208). Academic Press.
• Angelica sinensis (dong quai), Lycium barbarum (boxthorn), and Poria cocos (Fu-ling) showed antioxidant activities on rat liver.  From:  Wu, S. J., Ng, L. T., & Lin, C. C. (2004). Antioxidant activities of some common ingredients of traditional chinese medicine, Angelica sinensis, Lycium barbarum and Poria cocos. Phytotherapy Research, 18(12), 1008-1012.

ANISE

• Of oils tested: rosemary, cumin, anise, thyme, and sweetgum essential oils showed the strongest antioxidant radical scavenging activity.  From:  Topal, U., Sasaki, M., Goto, M., & Otles, S. (2008). Chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oils from nine species of Turkish plants obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and steam distillation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(7-8), 619-634.

BASIL

• Of the herbs studied, thyme and basil demonstrated the most antioxidant activity.  From:  Lee, K. G., & Shibamoto, T. (2002). Determination of antioxidant potential of volatile extracts isolated from various herbs and spices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(17), 4947-4952.
• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.

BAYBERRY

• There was an association between phenolic content and antioxidant activity of bayberry varieties.  From:  Zhou, S. H., Fang, Z. X., Lü, Y., Chen, J. C., Liu, D. H., & Ye, X. Q. (2009). Phenolics and antioxidant properties of bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) pomace. Food Chemistry, 112(2), 394-399.

BERGAMOT

• Bergamot had a natural antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effect on human endothelial cells.  From:  Trombetta, D., Cimino, F., Cristani, M., Mandalari, G., Saija, A., Ginestra, G., … & Narbad, A. (2010). In vitro protective effects of two extracts from bergamot peels on human endothelial cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(14), 8430-8436.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.

BLACK PEPPER

• Extracts of black pepper and turmeric and their piperine and curcumin constituents demonstrated in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. From: de Queiroz Cancian, M. A., de Almeida, F. G., Terhaag, M. M., de Oliveira, A. G., de Souza Rocha, T., & Spinosa, W. A. (2018). Curcuma longa L.-and Piper nigrum-based hydrolysate, with high dextrose content, shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. LWT, 96, 386-394.

BURDOCK

• Water extracts of burdock showed strong antioxidant activity.  From:  Duh, P. D. (1998). Antioxidant activity of burdock (Arctium lappa Linne): its scavenging effect on free-radical and active oxygen. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 75(4), 455-461.

CARDAMOM

• A cardamom supplement taken for 8 weeks reduced inflammation and oxidative stress in 80 overweight pre-diabetic female patients.  From: Kazemi, S., Yaghooblou, F., Siassi, F., Rahimi Foroushani, A., Ghavipour, M., Koohdani, F., & Sotoudeh, G. (2017). Cardamom supplementation improves inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in hyperlipidemic, overweight, and obese pre‐diabetic women: a randomized double‐blind clinical trial. Journal of the science of food and agriculture, 97(15), 5296-5301.

CHAMOMILE

• Chamazulene in chamomile demonstrated antioxidant power.  From:   Capuzzo, A., Occhipinti, A., & Maffei, M. E. (2014). Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of chamazulene. Natural product research, 28(24), 2321-2323.
• Ethanol extracts of German chamomile showed in vitro antioxidant activity and were antiproliferative against human hepatoma cancer cells. From: Al-Dabbagh, B., Elhaty, I. A., Elhaw, M., Murali, C., Al Mansoori, A., Awad, B., & Amin, A. (2019). Antioxidant and anticancer activities of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.). BMC research notes, 12(1), 3.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.

CHASTE

• Casticin from the plant Vitex agnus-castus possessed a marked lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect. From:  Hajdú, Z., Hohmann, J., Forgo, P., Martinek, T., Dervarics, M., Zupkó, I., … & Máthé, I. (2007). Diterpenoids and flavonoids from the fruits of Vitex agnus‐castus and antioxidant activity of the fruit extracts and their constituents. Phytotherapy Research, 21(4), 391-394.

CILANTRO

• Leaf and stem extracts from parsley and cilantro showed antioxidant and antibacterial activities in vitro. From: Wong, P. Y., & Kitts, D. D. (2006). Studies on the dual antioxidant and antibacterial properties of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) extracts. Food chemistry, 97(3), 505-515.

CINNAMON

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.
• In a double blind randomized study with 84 overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome, taking a 1500 mg of cinnamon daily for 8 weeks improved antioxidant, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, all risk factors in the disease. From: Borzoei, A., Rafraf, M., Niromanesh, S., Farzadi, L., Narimani, F., & Doostan, F. (2018). Effects of cinnamon supplementation on antioxidant status and serum lipids in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 8(1), 128-133.
• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.

CLEAVERS

• Aqueous extracts of cleavers showed strong antioxidant activity.  From:  Bokhari, J., Khan, M. R., Shabbir, M., Rashid, U., Jan, S., & Zai, J. A. (2013). Evaluation of diverse antioxidant activities of Galium aparine. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 102, 24-29.

CLOVE

• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.
• Clove bud extract and its major aroma components, eugenol and eugenyl acetate demonstrated antioxidant activity.  From:  Lee, K. G., & Shibamoto, T. (2001). Antioxidant property of aroma extract isolated from clove buds [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. et Perry]. Food Chemistry, 74(4), 443-448.
• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.

CORIANDER

• Coriander and its phenolic content showed antioxidant activity.  From:  Wangensteen, H., Samuelsen, A. B., & Malterud, K. E. (2004). Antioxidant activity in extracts from coriander. Food chemistry, 88(2), 293-297.
• Phenolic acids from coriander extracts showed antioxidant activity in vitro. From: de Almeida Melo, E., Mancini Filho, J., & Guerra, N. B. (2005). Characterization of antioxidant compounds in aqueous coriander extract (Coriandrum sativum L.). LWT-Food Science and Technology, 38(1), 15-19.
• A coriander seed supplement was hypoglycemic and antioxidant in rodents. From: Deepa, B., & Anuradha, C. V. (2011). Antioxidant potential of Coriandrum sativum L. seed extract.
• Coriander seed essential oil and its major components of geraniol (24%), d-linanol (16%), borneol (7%), α-pinene (9%) and β-pinene showed antioxidant activities in vitro. From: González-Marrugo, L. B., Granados-Llamas, E. A., Granados-Conde, C., Tejada-Tovar, C. N., & Ortega-Toro, R. (2018). Extraction and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Seed Essential Oil.

CUMIN

• Of oils tested: rosemary, cumin, anise, thyme, and sweetgum essential oils showed the strongest antioxidant radical scavenging activity.  From:  Topal, U., Sasaki, M., Goto, M., & Otles, S. (2008). Chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oils from nine species of Turkish plants obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and steam distillation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(7-8), 619-634.

CYPRESS

• Along with other Yemen plants tested, Cupressus sempervirens (cypress), demonstrated a growth inhibitory effect against all cancer cell lines tested, was active against gram positive bacteria, and showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity.  From:  Mothana, R. A. A., Gruenert, R., Bednarski, P. J., & Lindequist, U. (2009). Evaluation of the in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Yemeni plants used in folk medicine. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 64(4), 260-268.
• Leaf extracts of C. sempervirens showed the strongest antioxidant activity of the three tested plant parts.  From:  Tumen, I., Senol, F. S., & Orhan, I. E. (2012). Evaluation of possible in vitro neurobiological effects of two varieties of Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean cypress) through their antioxidant and enzyme inhibition actions. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry/Turk Biyokimya Dergisi, 37(1).

ELDERBERRY

• Elderberry phytonutrient (phenolic and monomeric anthocyanin) content and antioxidant capacity were similar to those of black raspberries and blackberries.  From:  Özgen, M., Scheerens, J. C., Reese, R. N., & Miller, R. A. (2010). Total phenolic, anthocyanin contents and antioxidant capacity of selected elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.) accessions. Pharmacognosy magazine, 6(23), 198. Elderberries have shown in research to help boost immunity, aid in cardiac health, improve blood sugar levels,  and have beneficial antioxidant activities.  From:  Sidor, A., & Gramza-Michałowska, A. (2015). Advanced research on the antioxidant and health benefit of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in food–a review. Journal of functional foods, 18, 941-958.

EUCALYPTUS

• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.

FENNEL

• Wild fennel exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity, as well as a total phenolic and flavonoid content compared to medicinal and edible fennels.  From:  Faudale, M., Viladomat, F., Bastida, J., Poli, F., & Codina, C. (2008). Antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of wild, edible, and medicinal fennel from different Mediterranean countries. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 56(6), 1912-1920.

GINKGO

• Fluid extracts of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) showed antioxidant activity against  free radicals.  From:  Bernatoniene, J., Kucinskaite, A., Masteikova, R., Kalveniene, Z., Kasparaviciene, G., & Savickas, A. (2008). The comparison of anti-oxidative kinetics in vitro of the fluid extract from maidenhair tree, motherwort and hawthorn. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica, 66(4), 415-421.

GRAPEFRUIT

• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.
• In a summary of research, it was concluded that flavonoids from citrus fruits have antioxidant activity that may help reduce disease like cancer and inflammation. From: Asjad, H. M. M., Akhtar, M. S., Bashir, S., Din, B., Gulzar, F., Khalid, R., & Asad, M. (2013). Phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of six common citrus plants in Pakistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences, 1(1), 1-5.
• In a review of research grapefruit and its component, naringin has shown antioxidant, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, cardiac protective, and anti-obesity effects. From: Razavi, B. M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2019). A Review of the Effects of Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) and Its Flavonoids, Naringin, and Naringenin in Metabolic Syndrome. In Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes (pp. 515-543). Academic Press.
• In a summary of research, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in citrus fruit with a significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. From: Tejada, S., Pinya, S., Martorell, M., Capó, X., Tur, J. A., Pons, A., & Sureda, A. (2018). Potential anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin from the genus Citrus. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(37), 4929-4945.

GREEN TEA

• In a small study with 10 healthy adults, drinking a supplement with mangosteen, aloe vera, green tea, and multivitamins effectively increased plasma antioxidant levels.  From:  Xie, Z., Sintara, M., Chang, T., & Ou, B. (2015). Functional beverage of Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) enhances plasma antioxidant capacity in healthy adults. Food science & nutrition, 3(1), 32-38.

GOJI BERRY

• In a double blind study of 50 healthy older Chinese adults, goji berries juice taken for 30 days showed increased antioxidants levels in the body.  From:  Amagase, H., Sun, B., & Borek, C. (2009). Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Nutrition Research, 29(1), 19-25.

HAWTHORN

• Fluid extracts of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) showed antioxidant activity against  free radicals.  From:  Bernatoniene, J., Kucinskaite, A., Masteikova, R., Kalveniene, Z., Kasparaviciene, G., & Savickas, A. (2008). The comparison of anti-oxidative kinetics in vitro of the fluid extract from maidenhair tree, motherwort and hawthorn. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica, 66(4), 415-421.

HELICHRYSUM

• The arzanol component of H. italicum preserves lipoproteins from oxidative damage and reduces oxidative stress.  From: Rosa, A., Deiana, M., Atzeri, A., Corona, G., Incani, A., Melis, M. P., … & Dessì, M. A. (2007). Evaluation of the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of arzanol, a prenylated α-pyrone–phloroglucinol etherodimer from Helichrysum italicum subsp microphyllum.  Chemico-biological interactions, 165(2), 117-126.

HOREHOUND

• Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort), Lamium album (white nettle), Marrubium vulgare (horehound), Stachys officinalis (hedge nettle), Lamium purpureum (red-dead nettle), and Galeopsis speciosa (hemp-nettle) showed significant antioxidant activities in vitro.  From:  Matkowski, A., & Piotrowska, M. (2006). Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae. Fitoterapia, 77(5), 346-353

JASMINE

• Jasminum sambac showed antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial activity in vitro.  From:  Abdoul-Latif, F., Edou, P., Eba, F., Mohamed, N., Ali, A., Djama, S., … & Dicko, M. (2010). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Jasminum sambac from Djibouti. African Journal of Plant Science, 4(3), 38-43.

JUNIPER

• Nematode lifespan was increased with a juniper berry essential oil in vivo assessment. From: Pandey, S., Tiwari, S., Kumar, A., Niranjan, A., Chand, J., Lehri, A., & Chauhan, P. S. (2018). Antioxidant and anti-aging potential of Juniper berry (Juniperus communis L.) essential oil in Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Industrial Crops and Products, 120, 113-122.
• Juniperus communis berries showed significant antioxidant activity in vitro. From: Živić, N., Milošević, S., Dekić, V., Dekić, B., Ristić, N., Ristić, M., & Sretić, L. (2019). Phytochemical and antioxidant screening of some extracts of Juniperus communis L. and Juniperus oxycedrus L. Czech Journal of Food Sciences.
• Antioxidant, anti-fungal, genoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities of juniper extracts were demonstrated in vitro. From: Fierascu, I., Ungureanu, C., Avramescu, S. M., Cimpeanu, C., Georgescu, M. I., Fierascu, R. C., … & Dinu-Pirvu, C. E. (2018). Genoprotective, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract of wild-growing Juniperus communis L.(Cupressaceae) native to Romanian southern sub-Carpathian hills. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 18(1), 3.
• Juniper berry, heartwood, and leaf extracts and essential oils of various species had significant hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities in vitro. From: Orhan, N. (2019). Juniperus Species: Features, Profile and Applications to Diabetes. In Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes (pp. 447-459). Academic Press.
• Juniper berry extracts were antimicrobial against bacteria that may cause autoimmune inflammatory diseases and cancers, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. From: Fernandez, A., & Cock, I. E. (2016). The Therapeutic Properties of Juniperus communis L.: Antioxidant Capacity, Bacterial growth Inhibition, Anticancer Activity and Toxicity. Pharmacognosy Journal, 8(3).

LAVENDER

• Lavender and rosemary inhalation protects the body from oxidative stress by enhancing free radical scavenging activity and decrease the stress hormone, cortisol.  From:  Atsumi, T., & Tonosaki, K. (2007). Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva. Psychiatry Research, 150(1), 89-96.

LEMON

• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.
• Orange, lemon and mandarin showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro.  From: Frassinetti, Stefania & Caltavuturo, L & Cini, Marianna & Della Croce, Clara & Maserti, Biancaelena. (2011). Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Citrus spp. Journal of Essential Oil Research – J ESSENT OIL RES. 23. 27-31. 10.
• In a summary of research, it was concluded that flavonoids from citrus fruits have antioxidant activity that may help reduce disease like cancer and inflammation. From: Asjad, H. M. M., Akhtar, M. S., Bashir, S., Din, B., Gulzar, F., Khalid, R., & Asad, M. (2013). Phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of six common citrus plants in Pakistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences, 1(1), 1-5.
• In a summary of research, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in citrus fruit with a significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. From: Tejada, S., Pinya, S., Martorell, M., Capó, X., Tur, J. A., Pons, A., & Sureda, A. (2018). Potential anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin from the genus Citrus. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(37), 4929-4945.

LEMONBALM

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.

LEMONGRASS

• Free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of lemongrass were assessed.  From:  Cheel, J., Theoduloz, C., Rodríguez, J., & Schmeda-Hirschmann, G. (2005). Free radical scavengers and antioxidants from Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.). Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(7), 2511-2517.
• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.

LICORICE

• Isoflavones from licorice protected mitochondrial function against oxidative stress.  From:  HARAGUCHI, H., YOSHIDA, N., ISHIKAWA, H., TAMURA, Y., MIZUTANI, K., & KINOSHITA, T. (2000). Protection of mitochondrial functions against oxidative stresses by isoflavans from Glycyrrhiza glabra. Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology, 52(2), 219-223.
• Glycyrrhiza glabra was a liver antioxidant in induced rats. From:  Rajesh, M. G., & Latha, M. S. (2004). Protective activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. on carbon tetrachloride-induced peroxidative damage. indian Journal of Pharmacology, 36(5), 284.

LIME

• In a summary of research, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in citrus fruit with a significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. From: Tejada, S., Pinya, S., Martorell, M., Capó, X., Tur, J. A., Pons, A., & Sureda, A. (2018). Potential anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin from the genus Citrus. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(37), 4929-4945.
• Essential oil from the leaves of Citrus aurantifolia had an in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant effect. From: Al-Aamri, M. S., Al-Abousi, N. M., Al-Jabri, S. S., Alam, T., & Khan, S. A. (2018). Chemical composition and in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Citrus aurantifolia L. leaves grown in Eastern Oman. Journal of Taibah University medical sciences, 13(2), 108-112.
• In a summary of research, it was concluded that flavonoids from citrus fruits have antioxidant activity that may help reduce disease like cancer and inflammation. From: Asjad, H. M. M., Akhtar, M. S., Bashir, S., Din, B., Gulzar, F., Khalid, R., & Asad, M. (2013). Phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of six common citrus plants in Pakistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences, 1(1), 1-5.

LITSEA

• Fruit from the essential oil of Litsea cubeba had the highest antimicrobial and antioxidant activity if harvested in July or August. From: She, Q. H., Li, W. S., Jiang, Y. Y., Wu, Y. C., Zhou, Y. H., & Zhang, L. (2019). Chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity of Litsea cubeba essential oils in different months. Natural product research, 1-4.
• Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities were demonstrated from extracts of Litsea cubeba in vitro. From: Gogoi, R., Loying, R., Sarma, N., Munda, S., Pandey, S. K., & Lal, M. (2018). A comparative study on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, genotoxicity, anti-microbial activities and chemical composition of fruit and leaf essential oils of Litsea cubeba Pers from North-east India. Industrial Crops and Products, 125, 131-139.

MANDARIN

• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.
• Orange, lemon and mandarin showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro.  From: Frassinetti, Stefania & Caltavuturo, L & Cini, Marianna & Della Croce, Clara & Maserti, Biancaelena. (2011). Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Citrus spp. Journal of Essential Oil Research – J ESSENT OIL RES. 23. 27-31. 10.
• In a summary of research, it was concluded that flavonoids from citrus fruits have antioxidant activity that may help reduce disease like cancer and inflammation. From: Asjad, H. M. M., Akhtar, M. S., Bashir, S., Din, B., Gulzar, F., Khalid, R., & Asad, M. (2013). Phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of six common citrus plants in Pakistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences, 1(1), 1-5.
• In a summary of research, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in citrus fruit with a significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. From: Tejada, S., Pinya, S., Martorell, M., Capó, X., Tur, J. A., Pons, A., & Sureda, A. (2018). Potential anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin from the genus Citrus. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(37), 4929-4945.
• In a summary of research, hesperidin is a bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in citrus fruit with a significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. From: Tejada, S., Pinya, S., Martorell, M., Capó, X., Tur, J. A., Pons, A., & Sureda, A. (2018). Potential anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin from the genus Citrus. Current medicinal chemistry, 25(37), 4929-4945.

MANGOSTEEN

• In a study with 60 adults, 30 day ingestion of mangosteen showed increased antioxidant biomarkers in the blood.  Immunity cells increased and inflammation biomarkers decreased.  Further, there was no effect on liver and kidney function.  From:  Xie, Z., Sintara, M., Chang, T., & Ou, B. (2015). Daily consumption of a mangosteen‐based drink improves in vivo antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Food science & nutrition, 3(4), 342-348.
• In a small study with 10 healthy adults, drinking a supplement with mangosteen, aloe vera, green tea, and multivitamins effectively increased plasma antioxidant levels.  From:  Xie, Z., Sintara, M., Chang, T., & Ou, B. (2015). Functional beverage of Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) enhances plasma antioxidant capacity in healthy adults. Food science & nutrition, 3(1), 32-38.
• Xanthone rich mangosteen demonstrated bioavailable antioxidant activity in vivo. From:  Kondo, M., Zhang, L., Ji, H., Kou, Y., & Ou, B. (2009). Bioavailability and antioxidant effects of a xanthone-rich Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) product in humans. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 57(19), 8788-8792.

MARJORAM

• Species of thyme, savory, sweet marjoram, and oregano showed varying types of antioxidant abilities.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Bachmayer, O., Kosar, M., & Hiltunen, R. (2004). Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected Lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(4), 762-770.

MORINGA

• Methanol extracts of the leaves, stems, and root bark of Moringa oleifera demonstrated antioxidant activities in vitro. From: Atawodi, S. E., Atawodi, J. C., Idakwo, G. A., Pfundstein, B., Haubner, R., Wurtele, G., … & Owen, R. W. (2010). Evaluation of the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of the leaves, stem, and root barks of Moringa oleifera Lam. Journal of Medicinal Food, 13(3), 710-716.
• Thirteen tested moringa species demonstrated varying antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in vitro. From: Ndhlala, A. R., Mulaudzi, R., Ncube, B., Abdelgadir, H. A., Du Plooy, C. P., & Van Staden, J. (2014). Antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical variations in thirteen Moringa oleifera Lam. cultivars. Molecules, 19(7), 10480-10494.

MOTHERWORT

• Crude extracts of motherwort showed antioxidant activity related to phenolic constituents.  From:  Jafari, S., Moradi, A., Salaritabar, A., Hadjiakhoondi, A., & Khanavi, M. (2010). Determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Leonurus cardiaca L. in compare with antioxidant activity. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5(7), 484-487.
• Fluid extracts of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) showed antioxidant activity against  free radicals.  From:  Bernatoniene, J., Kucinskaite, A., Masteikova, R., Kalveniene, Z., Kasparaviciene, G., & Savickas, A. (2008). The comparison of anti-oxidative kinetics in vitro of the fluid extract from maidenhair tree, motherwort and hawthorn. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica, 66(4), 415-421.
• Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort), Lamium album (white nettle), Marrubium vulgare (horehound), Stachys officinalis (hedge nettle), Lamium purpureum (red-dead nettle), and Galeopsis speciosa (hemp-nettle) showed significant antioxidant activities in vitro.  From:  Matkowski, A., & Piotrowska, M. (2006). Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae. Fitoterapia, 77(5), 346-353

NETTLE

• Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort), Lamium album (white nettle), Marrubium vulgare (horehound), Stachys officinalis (hedge nettle), Lamium purpureum (red-dead nettle), and Galeopsis speciosa (hemp-nettle) showed significant antioxidant activities in vitro.  From:  Matkowski, A., & Piotrowska, M. (2006). Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae. Fitoterapia, 77(5), 346-353

NONI

• Plasma measured free radicals were significantly reduced compared to placebo in a study of 285 heavy smokers who took a noni juice supplement 3 times a day for 30 days.  From:  Wang, M. Y., Lutfiyya, M. N., Weidenbacher-Hoper, V., Anderson, G., Su, C. X., & West, B. J. (2009). Antioxidant activity of noni juice in heavy smokers. Chemistry Central Journal, 3(1), 13.

OLIVE

• Antioxidant activity of phenolic constituents in olive leaf extract were identified.  From:  Benavente-Garcıa, O., Castillo, J., Lorente, J., Ortuno, A., & Del Rio, J. A. (2000). Antioxidant activity of phenolics extracted from Olea europaea L. leaves. Food Chemistry, 68(4), 457-462.
• This study attributed antioxidant activity of olive leaves to its high oleuropein content.  From:  Le Tutour, B., & Guedon, D. (1992). Antioxidative activities of Olea europaea leaves and related phenolic compounds. Phytochemistry, 31(4), 1173-1178.
• Oleuropein showed antioxidant activity.  From:  Visioli, F., Bellosta, S., & Galli, C. (1998). Oleuropein, the bitter principle of olives, enhances nitric oxide production by mouse macrophages. Life sciences, 62(6), 541-546.
• Olive leaf and its phenolic constituents have antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.  From:  Lee, O. H., & Lee, B. Y. (2010). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of individual and combined phenolics in Olea europaea leaf extract. Bioresource technology, 101(10), 3751-3754.

ORANGE

• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.
• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.
• Orange, lemon and mandarin showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in vitro.  From: Frassinetti, Stefania & Caltavuturo, L & Cini, Marianna & Della Croce, Clara & Maserti, Biancaelena. (2011). Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Citrus spp. Journal of Essential Oil Research – J ESSENT OIL RES. 23. 27-31. 10.
• In a summary of research, it was concluded that flavonoids from citrus fruits have antioxidant activity that may help reduce disease like cancer and inflammation. From: Asjad, H. M. M., Akhtar, M. S., Bashir, S., Din, B., Gulzar, F., Khalid, R., & Asad, M. (2013). Phenol, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity of six common citrus plants in Pakistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences, 1(1), 1-5.

OREGANO

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.
• Species of thyme, savory, sweet marjoram, and oregano showed varying types of antioxidant abilities.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Bachmayer, O., Kosar, M., & Hiltunen, R. (2004). Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected Lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(4), 762-770.

PARSLEY

• Leaf and stem extracts from parsley and cilantro showed antioxidant and antibacterial activities in vitro. From: Wong, P. Y., & Kitts, D. D. (2006). Studies on the dual antioxidant and antibacterial properties of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) extracts. Food chemistry, 97(3), 505-515.

PEPPERMINT

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.
• Mint species demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity with the most powerful scavenging compounds being menthone and isomenthone in the essential oils of M. longifolia and M. piperita and 1,8-cineole in the oil of M. aquatica.  From:  Mimica-Dukić, N., Božin, B., Soković, M., Mihajlović, B., & Matavulj, M. (2003). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils. Planta medica, 69(05), 413-419.
• Phenolic content was associated with antioxidant properties of multiple mint species.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Koşar, M., Kahlos, K., Holm, Y., & Hiltunen, R. (2003). Antioxidant properties and composition of aqueous extracts from Mentha species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(16), 4563-4569.

PINE

• Pine bark extracts was 13 times more effective as an antioxidants than vitamin C in a basic solution.  From:  Link:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00329-6

RASPBERRY

• Radical scavenging activity was identified in raspberry tea leaves.  From:  Venskutonis, P. R., Dvaranauskaite, A., & Labokas, J. (2007). Radical scavenging activity and composition of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaves from different locations in Lithuania. Fitoterapia, 78(2), 162-165.
• Phenolics from raspberries contributed to antioxidant and vasorelaxant activity.  From:  Mullen, W., McGinn, J., Lean, M. E., MacLean, M. R., Gardner, P., Duthie, G. G., … & Crozier, A. (2002). Ellagitannins, flavonoids, and other phenolics in red raspberries and their contribution to antioxidant capacity and vasorelaxation properties. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(18), 5191-5196.

ROSE

• Rose petals had strong free radical scavenging capacity and might be a useful additive in food.  From:  Yassa, N., Masoomi, F., Rankouhi, S. R., & Hadjiakhoondi, A. (2015). Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the extract and essential oil of Rosa damascena from Iran, population of Guilan. DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(3), 175-180.

ROSEMARY

• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.
• Lavender and rosemary inhalation protects the body from oxidative stress by enhancing free radical scavenging activity and decrease the stress hormone, cortisol.  From:  Atsumi, T., & Tonosaki, K. (2007). Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva. Psychiatry Research, 150(1), 89-96.
• Rosemary and sage were tested against 13 bacterial strains 6 fungi, and 5 dermatomycetes and showed strong antimicrobial activity.  Rosemary also showed strong antioxidant activities.  From:  Bozin, B., Mimica-Dukic, N., Samojlik, I., & Jovin, E. (2007). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of rosemary and sage (Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 55(19), 7879-7885.
• Carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmarinic acid content in rosemary impacted radical-scavenging activity and the anti-inflammatory action was mainly based on the carnosic acid content.  From:  Kuhlmann, Annette, and Claudia Röhl. “Phenolic antioxidant compounds produced by in vitro. Cultures of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis.) and their anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia.” Pharmaceutical biology 44.6 (2006): 401-410.
• Rosemary extract and its rosmarinic acid constituent showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.  From:  Moreno, S., Scheyer, T., Romano, C. S., & Vojnov, A. A. (2006). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of rosemary extracts linked to their polyphenol composition. Free radical research, 40(2), 223-231.
• Rosemary essential oil and its constituents demonstrated antibacterial and antioxidant activities.  Myrcene was the constituent associated with antioxidant activity and alpha pinene was a strong antibacterial.  1,8-cineole was effective against the E. coli bacteria.  From:  Ojeda-Sana, A. M., van Baren, C. M., Elechosa, M. A., Juárez, M. A., & Moreno, S. (2013). New insights into antibacterial and antioxidant activities of rosemary essential oils and their main components. Food Control, 31(1), 189-195.
• Antioxidant activity of sage and rosemary was associated with phenolic content.  From:  Papageorgiou, V., Gardeli, C., Mallouchos, A., Papaioannou, M., & Komaitis, M. (2008). Variation of the chemical profile and antioxidant behavior of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia fruticosa Miller grown in Greece. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 56(16), 7254-7264.
• This study assessed the types of antioxidant activity of rosemary constituents: rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, carnasol, and rosmadial.  From:  Pérez-Fons, L., GarzÓn, M. T., & Micol, V. (2009). Relationship between the antioxidant capacity and effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) polyphenols on membrane phospholipid order. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(1), 161-171.
• A rosemary supplement reduced oxidative stress in the organs of old rats.  From:  Posadas, S. J., Caz, V., Largo, C., De la Gandara, B., Matallanas, B., Reglero, G., & De Miguel, E. (2009). Protective effect of supercritical fluid rosemary extract, Rosmarinus officinalis, on antioxidants of major organs of aged rats. Experimental gerontology, 44(6), 383-389.
• Rosemary extract was protective against oxidative damage to DNA.   From:  Slameňová, D., Kubošková, K., Horváthová, E., & Robichová, S. (2002). Rosemary-stimulated reduction of DNA strand breaks and FPG-sensitive sites in mammalian cells treated with H 2 O 2 or visible light-excited methylene blue. Cancer letters, 177(2), 145-153.
• Of oils tested: rosemary, cumin, anise, thyme, and sweetgum essential oils showed the strongest antioxidant radical scavenging activity.  From:  Topal, U., Sasaki, M., Goto, M., & Otles, S. (2008). Chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oils from nine species of Turkish plants obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and steam distillation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(7-8), 619-634.
• Antioxidant activities of carnosic acid and carnosol were demonstrated.  From:  Wijeratne, S. S., & Cuppett, S. L. (2007). Potential of rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis L.) diterpenes in preventing lipid hydroperoxide-mediated oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 55(4), 1193-1199.

SAGE

• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.
• Using a smaller particle size increased antioxidant power in extracts made from agrimony, sage and savory.  From:  Gião, M. S., Pereira, C. I., Fonseca, S. C., Pintado, M. E., & Malcata, F. X. (2009). Effect of particle size upon the extent of extraction of antioxidant power from the plants Agrimonia eupatoria, Salvia sp. and Satureja montana. Food Chemistry, 117(3), 412-416.

SAVORY

• Species of thyme, savory, sweet marjoram, and oregano showed varying types of antioxidant abilities.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Bachmayer, O., Kosar, M., & Hiltunen, R. (2004). Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected Lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(4), 762-770.
• Using a smaller particle size increased antioxidant power in extracts made from agrimony, sage and savory.  From:  Gião, M. S., Pereira, C. I., Fonseca, S. C., Pintado, M. E., & Malcata, F. X. (2009). Effect of particle size upon the extent of extraction of antioxidant power from the plants Agrimonia eupatoria, Salvia sp. and Satureja montana. Food Chemistry, 117(3), 412-416.

SPEARMINT

• Mint species demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity with the most powerful scavenging compounds being menthone and isomenthone in the essential oils of M. longifolia and M. piperita and 1,8-cineole in the oil of M. aquatica.  From:  Mimica-Dukić, N., Božin, B., Soković, M., Mihajlović, B., & Matavulj, M. (2003). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Mentha species essential oils. Planta medica, 69(05), 413-419.
• Phenolic content was associated with antioxidant activity of spearmint.  From:  Arumugam, P., Ramamurthy, P., Santhiya, S. T., & Ramesh, A. (2006). Antioxidant activity measured in different solvent fractions obtained from Mentha spicata Linn.: An analysis by ABTS.+ decolorization assay. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 15(1), 119.
• Radical scavenging, antioxidant activity was demonstrated in vitro of spearmint.  From:  Choudhury, R. P., Kumar, A., & Garg, A. N. (2006). Analysis of Indian mint (Mentha spicata) for essential, trace and toxic elements and its antioxidant behaviour. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 41(3), 825-832
• Phenolic content was associated with antioxidant properties of multiple mint species.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Koşar, M., Kahlos, K., Holm, Y., & Hiltunen, R. (2003). Antioxidant properties and composition of aqueous extracts from Mentha species, hybrids, varieties, and cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(16), 4563-4569.
• S‐carvone from spearmint possessed high antioxidant activity. From:  Elmastaş, M., Dermirtas, I., Isildak, O., & Aboul‐Enein, H. Y. (2006). Antioxidant Activity of S‐Carvone Isolated from Spearmint (Mentha Spicata L. Fam Lamiaceae). Journal of liquid chromatography & related technologies, 29(10), 1465-1475.

SWEET GUM

• Of oils tested: rosemary, cumin, anise, thyme, and sweetgum essential oils showed the strongest antioxidant radical scavenging activity.  From:  Topal, U., Sasaki, M., Goto, M., & Otles, S. (2008). Chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oils from nine species of Turkish plants obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and steam distillation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(7-8), 619-634.

TANGERINE

• Orange, grapefruit, mandarin, and tangerine essential oils demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in vitro.  From:  Javed, S., Javaid, A., Nawaz, S., Saeed, M. K., Mahmood, Z., Siddiqui, S. Z., & Ahmad, R. (2014). Phytochemistry, GC-MS analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of essential oil from five citrus species. Journal of Agricultural Science, 6(3), 201.

TEA TREE

• Tea tree oil and its isolated terpenoids showed antioxidant activities.  From:  Kim, H. J., Chen, F., Wu, C., Wang, X., Chung, H. Y., & Jin, Z. (2004). Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil and its components. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 52(10), 2849-2854.

THYME

• Of the herbs studied, thyme and basil demonstrated the most antioxidant activity.  From:  Lee, K. G., & Shibamoto, T. (2002). Determination of antioxidant potential of volatile extracts isolated from various herbs and spices. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(17), 4947-4952.
• Of 25 essential oils tested, thyme and clove showed the highest antioxidant activity; indicated were their thymol and eugenol components.  Cinnamon, basil, bergamot, eucalyptus, chamomile, bitter orange, and aloe vera were also effective.  From:  Wei, A., & Shibamoto, T. (2010). Antioxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(12), 7218-7225.
• The following dried herbs tested contained high amounts of antioxidant content:  oregano, sage, peppermint, thyme, lemon balm, clove, allspice, cinnamon, and a few additional Chinese medicinal herbs.   From:  Dragland, S., Senoo, H., Wake, K., Holte, K., & Blomhoff, R. (2003). Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. The Journal of nutrition, 133(5), 1286-1290.
• Species of thyme, savory, sweet marjoram, and oregano showed varying types of antioxidant abilities.  From:  Dorman, H. D., Bachmayer, O., Kosar, M., & Hiltunen, R. (2004). Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected Lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(4), 762-770.
• Of oils tested: rosemary, cumin, anise, thyme, and sweetgum essential oils showed the strongest antioxidant radical scavenging activity.  From:  Topal, U., Sasaki, M., Goto, M., & Otles, S. (2008). Chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oils from nine species of Turkish plants obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and steam distillation. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(7-8), 619-634.
• Thymus spicata and its constituents of thymol and carvacrol inhibited human lymphocyte oxidative DNA damage.  From:  Aydın, S., Başaran, A. A., & Başaran, N. (2005). Modulating effects of thyme and its major ingredients on oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 53(4), 1299-1305.

TURMERIC

• Extracts of black pepper and turmeric and their piperine and curcumin constituents demonstrated in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. From: de Queiroz Cancian, M. A., de Almeida, F. G., Terhaag, M. M., de Oliveira, A. G., de Souza Rocha, T., & Spinosa, W. A. (2018). Curcuma longa L.-and Piper nigrum-based hydrolysate, with high dextrose content, shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. LWT, 96, 386-394.

YARROW

• Achillea species showed antioxidant activity on damaged human erythrocytes and leucocytes in vitro.   From:  Konyalioglu, S., & Karamenderes, C. (2005). The protective effects of Achillea L. species native in Turkey against H 2 O 2-induced oxidative damage in human erythrocytes and leucocytes. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 102(2), 221-227.

YELLOW DOCK

• Yellow dock methanol extract showed hepatic antioxidant activities.  From:  Maksimović, Z., Kovačević, N., Lakušić, B., & Ćebović, T. (2011). Antioxidant activity of yellow dock (Rumex crispus L., Polygonaceae) fruit extract. Phytotherapy Research, 25(1), 101-105.
• The aerial parts of R. crispus showed antibacterial and antioxidant activities.  From:  Coruh, I., Gormez, A., Ercisli, S., & Sengul, M. (2008). Total phenolic content, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of Rumex crispus grown wild in Turkey. Pharmaceutical biology, 46(9), 634-638.
• There was a correlation in tannin content and antioxidant activity of six tested Rumex species.  From:  Wegiera, M., Grabarczyk, P., Baraniak, B., & Smolarz, H. (2011). Antiradical properties of extracts from roots, leaves and fruits of six Rumex L. species. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia Series Botanica, 53(1), 125-131. 

YLANG YLANG

• Cananga odorata, Boswellia thurifera, Cymbopogon citratus, Marjorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Citrus limon exhibited considerable inhibitory effect against all the bacteria and fungi tested, and also demonstrated antioxidant activity comparable with α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene.  From:  Baratta, M. T., Dorman, H. J., Deans, S. G., Figueiredo, A. C., Barroso, J. G., & Ruberto, G. (1998). Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some commercial essential oils. Flavour and fragrance journal, 13(4), 235-244.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 2/5/2020