Abstract: A carnosic acid-rich plant extract can be produced by extracting a dried and comminuted plant material containing carnosic acid with supercritical CO2 at a pressure of at least 200 bar and at a temperature of at most 100° C. In a first step, supercritical CO2 in a quantity of 10 to 50 kg of CO2 per kg of plant material is passed through the plant material to obtain a first CO2 extract. In a second step, additional supercritical CO2 is passed through the plant material to obtain a second CO2 extract, and a carnosic acid-rich plant extract is separated from the second CO2 extract by lowering the pressure.

Abstract: A carnosic acid-rich plant extract can be produced by extracting a dried and comminuted plant material containing carnosic acid with supercritical CO2 at a pressure of at least 200 bar and at a temperature of at most 100° C. In a first step, super-critical CO2 in a quantity of 10 to 50 kg of CO2 per kg of plant material is passed through the plant material to obtain a first CO2 extract. In a second step, additional supercritical CO2 is passed through the plant material to obtain a second CO2 extract, and a carnosic acid-rich plant extract is separated from the second CO2 extract by lowering the pressure.

Abstract: A process to extract natural aromas from natural substances containing fat and oil with compressed gases, wherein the natural substances are extracted in two steps in which in the first step liquid propane and/or butane at a temperature of .ltoreq.70.degree. C. and at a pressure of <500 bar and in the subsequent second step compressed carbon dioxide at a temperature of .ltoreq.50.degree. C. and at pressures between 70 and 500 bar are used as extraction agents.

Abstract: In order to produce natural antioxidants by extraction of spices selected from the group of rosemary, thyme, sage and origano using compressed carbon dioxide and oreganic solventsa) these spices are de-aromatized by extraction with carbon dioxide at a pressure of 80 to 300 bar and at a temperature of 10.degree. to 80.degree. C.,b) the extraction residue obtained from step a) is treated with polar alcoholic solvents with 1 to 4 C atoms and/or non-polar hydrocarbons with 5 to 7 C atoms andc) the solvent extract obtained from step b) is treated with active carbon andd) the extract obtained from step c) is aftertreated with water at a temperature of 40.degree. to 100.degree. C. if desired after extensively removing the solvent.Antioxidants obtained in this way are almost completely neutral with regard to flavour, odor as well as colour and are more effective than synthetic antioxidants.