Sedge extracts can be used as natural additives in food

According to a new research from Italy, extracts from sedge plants (Carex distachya) are rich in antioxidants and could offer industry an alternative to synthetic additives. As per the findings, methanol extracts from the plant were found to be similar in antioxidant activity to the established antioxidants ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT).

Antonio Fiorentino from the Seconda Universita degli Studi di Napoli, said ''Because the most active and abundant phenols are common constituents of plant foods, the results of this study showed that the methanol root extract of this plant could be used as a source of natural antioxidants useful as potential food additives.''

Interest is growing in plant-derived food additives as replacements to synthetic antioxidants like butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and BHT for slowing down the oxidative deterioration of food.
According to Frost and Sullivan, the synthetic antioxidant market is in decline, while natural antioxidants, like herb extracts (particularly rosemary), tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbates (vitamin C) are growing, which is pushed by easy consumer acceptance and legal requirements for market access.