Purified carnosol and carnosic acid are powerful inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in microsomal and liposomal systems, more effective than propyl gallate.

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Protects Neurons - In this study, we focused on the neuroprotective effects of one such compound, carnosic acid (CA), found in the herb rosemary obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis.

We found that CA activates the Keap1/Nrf2 transcriptional pathway by binding to specific Keap1 cysteine residues, thus protecting neurons from oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.

We present evidence that both the neuronal and non‐neuronal distribution of CA may contribute to its neuroprotective effect.

CA translocates into the brain, increases the level of reduced glutathione in vivo, and protects the brain against middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion, suggesting that CA may represent a new type of neuroprotective electrophilic compound.

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Alzheimer's Disease - Carnosic acid (CA) is an effective antioxidant substance and recent studies have shown that its electrophilic compounds play a role in reversing oxidative stress. Thus in this study they tried to find out whether CA administration protects hippocampal neurons, preventing neurodegeneration in rats.

Results showed that pretreatment with carnosic acid can reduce cellular death in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of the hippocampus in the lesion+CA group, as compared with the lesion group.

Carnosic acid may be useful in protecting against beta amyloid-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampus.

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Learning and Memory - The current study evaluated effects of two proprietary antioxidant-based ingredients, rosemary extract