Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is widely used as a 
chewing gum base in lieu of natural gums. It is necessary to protect 
chewing gum SBR with a 
food grade antioxidant stabilizer 
system. This invention discloses a 
chewing gum rubber composition (
gum base) that utilizes 
carnosic acid from a Libiatae 
plant, such as rosemary or sage, as an 
antioxidant stabilizer. In the practice of this invention the chewing 
gum base also containg 
lecithin that can be used as an emulsifier for the 
carnosic acid. This invention more specifically discloses a chewing 
gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery 
elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an 
elastomer plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural 
rosin esters and synthetic 
terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) 
carnosic acid, and (5) 
lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of sweeteners. The subject invention also reveals a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery 
elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer 
plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural 
rosin esters and synthetic 
terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) carnosic acid, and (5) 
lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of 
flavoring agents. The present invention further discloses a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer 
plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural 
rosin esters and synthetic 
terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) carnosic acid, and lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of colorants.