The hop essential oil (Humulus lupulus) can be used as a natural additive in food to prevent lipid oxidation, replacing synthetic ones. The aim was to study the antioxidant activity of hop essential oil under accelerated oxidation conditions and determine the relationship between β-myrcene/caryophyllene (α, β) (M/Cs) as an antioxidant-efficient indicator. Sunflower oil was used as a lipid model. Five treatments were carried out (control, BHT, Chinook (CH), Cryo Citra (CYT), and Falconers Flight (F) at 0.02 %). The antioxidant efficacy was measured through free radical-scavenging activity, peroxide value, conjugated dienes, and oxidation volatile compounds. Cryo Citra essential oil showed the highest antioxidant activity, comparable with BHT, and M/Cs of 3.14 and F (0.91) and CH (0.57) showed good performance in the accelerated oxidation test while Chinook showed the best free radical-scavenging activity. The M/Cs relationship can be used as an antioxidant-efficient indicator with values biggest than 0.90. Display omitted •Hop essential oils demonstrated an effective antioxidant activity.•The antioxidant activity of Cryo Citra hop was comparable with BHT.•Hop essential oil could replace the synthetic antioxidants.•Myrcene/caryophyllene (α, β) is a good antioxidant-efficient indicator.