Extracts from the leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia obtained by a combination of extraction processes with supercritical CO2, ethanol and water

[Display omitted] ► We studied one and two step extraction process from samples of Baccharis dracunculifolia L. leaves. ► The supercritical extraction permits the recovery of Artepillin C with higher concentrations. ► Two step extraction process permits the recovery of polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds. One and two step extraction processes were used to obtain extracts from two samples of alecrim do campo leaves (Baccharis dracunculifolia L.). In the one step process, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), ethanol and water were used as solvents. In the two step process, scCO2 was used as a solvent in the first step followed by ethanol or water as the solvent in a second step on the residue resulting from scCO2 extraction. Extraction yields, total polyphenol, total flavonoid and Artepillin C contents, antioxidant activity by DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching methods were measured in all extracts. The supercritical extract showed a higher concentration and yield of Artepillin C, low antioxidant activity by the DPPH method and high antioxidant activity by the β-carotene method. In general the aqueous and ethanol extracts were more concentrated in polyphenol compounds and a second extraction step produced high yields with high concentrations of phenolic compounds.