Abstract Extracts from Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves were obtained using the following solvents: supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ), ethanol and methanol. Supercritical extraction was carried out at temperatures of 40, 50 and 60 °C and pressures of 20, 30 and 40 MPa. Four phenolic compounds were analysed in the extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography: 3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (DHCA or artepillin C); 3-prenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (PHCA); 4-hydroxycinnamic acid ( p -coumaric acid) and 4-methoxy-3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone (kaempferide). The global extraction yields ( X 0 ) obtained by the conventional methods with ethanol and methanol were higher than those obtained by SC-CO 2 . However on analysing the components of interest extracted at 60 °C and 40 MPa, the extraction yields of kaempferide, DHCA and PHCA were 156%, 98% and 64% higher, respectively, than in the ethanolic extracts. Only the p -coumaric acid extraction yield was better when extracted using the conventional method.