The effect of combinations of sage, oregano and honey on lipid oxidation in cooked chicken meat during
refrigeration at 4 C for 96 h was determined. Chicken samples (thigh and breast) were then separated
into five groups: control; butylated hydroxytoluene; oregano + sage; oregano + sage + 5%honey and oregano
+ sage + 10%honey. Quantitative measurements of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, conjugated
dienes, hexanal, fatty acids, cholesterol and cholesterol oxides were used as indicators of lipid
oxidation. Acceptability and preference were also evaluated. The effectiveness of the natural antioxidants
for reducing the velocity of lipid oxidation in cooked chicken thigh and breast was demonstrated after 48
and 96 h of refrigeration at 4 C. The treatments that presented the lowest hexanal values after 96 h of
refrigeration were oregano + sage + 5%honey and oregano + sage + 10%honey. Only traces of free cholesterol
oxides were found (25-OH, 7-k, 7a-OH and 7b-OH). The natural antioxidants protected cooked
chicken meat from oxidation processes and resulted in great acceptability.