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Abstract

The present invention provides methods of extracting antioxidant compositions from olive-based starting materials, including olives, olive pulps, olive oil, and wastewater from olive oil manufacturing. One method includes the steps of extracting the olives, olive pulp or olive oil with a polar aqueous solvent to form an aqueous phase containing antioxidant components, passing the aqueous phase through a solid matrix to trap the antioxidant components on the matrix, and washing the matrix with a polar organic solvent to yield a solution of the antioxidant composition in the polar organic solvent. Another method includes the steps passing the wastewater from olive oil production containing antioxidant components through a solid matrix to trap the antioxidant components on the matrix, and washing the matrix with a polar organic solvent to yield a solution of the antioxidant composition in the polar organic solvent. The present invention also provides antioxidant compositions and methods of increasing the antioxidant activity of a product using such compositions.

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First Claim