Ethanol/water (7:3) extracts of the plant species Anthriscus sylvestris possess antioxidant activity. Separation and identification of antioxidant components by thin-layer and column chromatography and spectral analysis demonstrated that quercetin and apigenin appeared to be the main flavonoid species in Anthriscus sylvestris. Rutin was one of the major quercetin glycosides. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined by infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Ethanolic extract (70%) of A. sylvestris showed concentration-dependent, strong antioxidant activity as determined by the Schaal Oven test of lard at 60~ Rancimat analysis at 100~ showed that the antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract of A. sylvestris was superior to quercetin, apigenin, or a tocopherol mixture.JAOCS 73, 773-776 (1996).KEY WORDS: Anthriscus sylvestris, antioxidant activity, apigenin, flavonoids, quercetin, rutin, tocopherol.The possible toxicity of synthetic antioxidants (1,2) has increased interest in preparing antioxidants from natural products by extraction, fractionation, and purification. Flavonoids are of particular interest among naturally occurring substances with potential antioxidant activity. In addition to essential oils, flavonoids are characteristic constituents of a great number of species of the Apiaceae (3). The Serbian plant species Anthriscus sylvestris, family Apiaceae, has been widely used in folk medicine as tonics, diuretics, and salad dressing (4,5). A preliminary study of its chemical composition was made on lignans of the root (6) and essential oils, fatty acids, and sterols of the flowers and leaves (7). Chemical analysis of the aerial parts ofA. sylvestris, collected in the vicinity of Belgrade, have shown the presence of three flavonoid compounds--apigenin, quercetin, and rutin (8). It is known that flavonoids are not only soluble in water-alcoholic mixtures, but also have high solubility in fats and oils, which can promote their use as antioxidants in edible oils (9).As natural sources of antioxidants are gaining importance for food technology (! 0), the present study was initiated to identify flavonoids in A. sylvestris with antioxidant activity and to evaluate their potential as antioxidants.