Spices as natural antioxidants: their application in food and implication for health

Abstract

The growing interest in replacing synthetic antioxidants by natural antioxidants in food has stimulated research on vegetable sources, raw material characterization and identification of new antioxidant compounds. Oxidation reactions are not an exclusive preoccupation of the food industry; studies regarding this issue are widely necessary in order to prevent undesired implications for human health. The aim of this review, after presenting overall aspects about oxidation, is to concentrate on the benefits of using spices as natural antioxidants, especially those from the Labiatae family, which are widely used in the Brazilian cuisine.

oxidation; natural antioxidants; spices