Commission Directive 2008/84/EC (repealed)Show full title

[F1 E 392 EXTRACTS OF ROSEMARY

GENERAL SPECIFICATION
Synonym	Extract of rosemary leaf (antioxidant)
Definition	Extracts of rosemary contain several components, which have been proven to exert antioxidative functions. These components belong mainly to the classes of phenolic acids, flavonoids, diterpenoids. Besides the antioxidant compounds, the extracts can also contain triterpenes and organic solvent extractable material specifically defined in the following specification
EINECS	283-291-9
Chemical name	Rosemary extract ( Rosmarinus officinalis )
Description	Rosemary leaf extract antioxidant is prepared by extraction of the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis using a food approved solvent system. Extracts may then be deodorised and decolourised. Extracts may be standardised
Identification
Reference antioxidative compounds: phenolic diterpenes	Carnosic acid (C 20 H 28 O 4 ) and Carnosol (C 20 H 26 O 4 ) (which comprise not less than 90 % of the total phenolic diterpenes)
Reference key volatiles	Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Camphor, 1,8-Cineol, Verbenone
Density	> 0,25 g/ml
Solubility	Insoluble in water
Purity
Loss on Drying	< 5 %
Arsenic	Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead	Not more than 2 mg/kg

1. Extracts of rosemary produced from dried rosemary leaves by acetone extraction
Description	Extracts of rosemary are produced from dried rosemary leaves by acetone extraction, filtration, purification and solvent evaporation, followed by drying and sieving to obtain a fine powder or a liquid
Identification
Content of reference antioxidative compounds	≥ 10 % w/w, expressed as the total of carnosic acid and carnosol
Antioxidant/Volatiles — Ratio	(Total % w/w of carnosic acid and carnosol) ≥ 15 (% w/w of reference key volatiles)* (* as a percentage of total volatiles in the extract, measured by Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectrometry Detection, ‘ GC-MSD ’ )
Residual Solvents	Acetone: not more than 500 mg/kg

2. Extracts of rosemary prepared by extraction of dried rosemary leaves by means of supercritical carbon dioxide
Extracts of rosemary produced from dried rosemary leaves extracted by means of supercritical carbon dioxide with a small amount of ethanol as entrainer.
Identification
Content of reference antioxidative compounds	≥ 13 % w/w, expressed as the total of carnosic acid and carnosol
Antioxidant/Volatiles — Ratio	(Total % w/w of carnosic acid and carnosol) ≥ 15 (% w/w of reference key volatiles)* (* as a percentage of total volatiles in the extract, measured by Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectrometry Detection, ‘ GC-MSD ’ )
Residual Solvents	Ethanol: not more than 2 %

3. Extracts of rosemary prepared from a deodorised ethanolic extract of rosemary
Extracts of rosemary which are prepared from a deodorised ethanolic extract of rosemary. The extracts may be further purified, for example by treatment with active carbon and/or molecular distillation. The extracts may be suspended in suitable and approved carriers or spray dried.
Identification
Content of reference antioxidative compounds	≥ 5 % w/w, expressed as the total of carnosic acid and carnosol
Antioxidant/Volatiles — Ratio	(Total % w/w of carnosic acid and carnosol) ≥ 15 (% w/w of reference key volatiles)* (* as a percentage of total volatiles in the extract, measured by Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectrometry Detection, ‘ GC-MSD ’ )
Residual Solvents	Ethanol: not more than 500 mg/kg

4. Extracts of rosemary decolourised and deodorised, obtained by a two-step extraction using hexane and ethanol
Extracts of rosemary which are prepared from a deodorised ethanolic extract of rosemary, undergone a hexane extraction. The extract may be further purified, for example by treatment with active carbon and/or molecular distillation. They may be suspended in suitable and approved carriers or spray dried.
Identification
Content of reference antioxidative compounds	≥ 5 % w/w, expressed as the total of carnosic acid and carnosol
Antioxidant/Volatiles — Ratio	(Total % w/w of carnosic acid and carnosol) ≥ 15 (% w/w of reference key volatiles)* (* as a percentage of total volatiles in the extract, measured by Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectrometry Detection, ‘ GC-MSD ’ )
Residual solvents	Hexane: not more than 25 mg/kg Ethanol: not more than 500 mg/kg]