Obtaining an extract with high antioxidant activity using environmentally friendly technologies and low-cost raw materials is of great interest. In the present work, a combined extraction process developed by our research group involving ultrasound treatment and agitated solvent extraction was evaluated. This method was compared in terms of yield, composition, and economical feasibility to traditional extraction methods, including ultrasound assisted, agitated bed and soxhlet extraction with ethanol (acidified or not). The proposed method maximizes the extraction of phenolic compounds with acceptable degradation of anthocyanin pigments from an unusual source: Brazilian jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) skins. The use of ultrasonic irradiation continuously supporting a main extraction process has demonstrated increased performance but implies in high consumption of energy and consequently, money. However, the procedure described in this paper appears to be a viable option because it uses shorter ultrasonic irradiation and results in high antioxidant activity extracts, and the anthocyanin profile corroborates literature data (cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-glucoside). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.