Ethnologic herb extracts may boost antioxidant levels in cookies

Formulating cookies with a mixture of ethnologic extracts of medicinal herbs could improve antioxidant activity and lower chemical spoilage, according to a new study conducted by the Institute of Food Technologists in Serbia.

During the research, the cookies were supplemented with Vitalplant, a mixture of the ethanolic extracts of parsley fruit, buckthorn bark, mint leaves and caraway fruit. The study results showed that cookies formulated with the mixture had better oxidative stability and high antioxidant activity, which was due to the synergistic effects of the mixture components, the researchers found.

Antioxidant activity was evaluated by two direct erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) tests and four indirect spectrophotometric tests, and the results of these were linked to total phenolic and flavonoid content. The ability to slow the process of lipid oxidation was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) without reactive substance assay (TBARS) and a DPPH test.

The government-funded study also showed that mint extract had the highest antioxidant capacity and concluded that Vitalplant has potential as an ingredient for functional food formulations.

However, further research is required to confirm the functionality of Vitalplant formulated cookies and consumer studies may be needed to evaluate the taste of these products.

According to researchers, due to the strong oxidant properties of spices and aromatic herbs, there has been increasing industry interest in their functional benefits within food formulations. They cited a study conducted in 2000 by Finkel and Holbrook that identified that foods rich in antioxidants help prevent cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. A study published last year also identified the antioxidant benefits and shelf-life extension properties of the sugar beet fibre derived ingredient Fibrex, when added to cookies.

Image: Cookies formulated with Vitalplant had better oxidative stability and high antioxidant activity due to the synergistic effects of the mixture components. (Image courtesy of Dezidor.)