Abstract: Two-step extraction with polar solvents and nonpolar solvents was an effective comprehensive extraction for antioxidant and essential oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L. ). The method was simple on operation and was easily put into practice. The reasonable conditions of comprehensive extraction for antioxidant and essential oil of rosemary were as follows: broken rosemary leaves, 95% ethanol as polar solvent, 3-4 h of extraction at 90℃, and petroleum ether with the boiling range of 60-90℃ as nonpolar solvent. The yield of rosemary oil was 1.50%.Constituent analysis of rosemary oil showed that the essential oil belongs to that of Spanish type. The yield of rosemary antioxidant was 16.08%. The yield of rosemary antioxidant after decolorization by activated carbon was 85.00%. Main active components of rosemary antioxidant were carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid, whose average contents were 17.78%, 6.23% and 3.37%, respectively.

Key words: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L. ), antioxidant, essential oil, two-step extraction