ANTIOXIDANT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an antioxidant which has a very potent antioxidant effect, is nonproblematic in toxicity, and has possible uses in many fields including foods, cosmetics, etc., by using an extract of a birch plant of Betulaceae as the active ingredient. SOLUTION: This antioxidant contains as the active ingredient an extract of a birch, obtained by subjecting a mixture of the whole body (including leaves, stems and fruits, etc.) of this plant with an extractant such as water or ethanol to cold immersion or heating under reflux, filtering the product,, and concentrating the filtrate. It is suitable that the antioxidant contains 0.001-20.0wt.% (in terms of a dried product), based on the entire antioxidant, above extract. As compared with conventional antioxidants, it can exhibit a marked antioxidant effect and a potent antioxidant effects as compared with an antioxidant obtained from Hydrangea hortensis Sm. var. oamacha Makino of the saxifrage family. It can be stably added to a system containing a substance which has poor oxidation stability and is difficultly stabilized by the addition and has possible uses in many fields including cosmetics, foods, etc.