ABSTRACT
In our study, it was found that solid–liquid extraction solvent influenced the phenolic content in leaf extracts of Stevia origanoides, S. ovata and S. viscida. The highest total phenolic and flavonoids contents, the highest scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical, and the highest total antioxidant capacity values were observed when 50% ethanol was used. The phenolic compounds identified in the Stevia leaf extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) include phenolic acids such as chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric and vanillic acid, as well as flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol.