Brazilian Ginseng extracts of two species, Pfaffia paniculata and Pfaffia glomerata, were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2 and by low-pressure solvent extraction (LPSE) with methanol, hexane and ethanol. The SFE assays were conducted at pressures of 100, 200 and 300 bar, and temperatures of 30 and 50 degrees C. The qualitative chemical compositions of the extracts were determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC). One of the active principles of interest from P. glomerata extract, beta-ecdysone, was identified and quantified by HPLC. The antioxidant activities of Brazilian Ginseng extracts were determined by the coupled reaction of linolenic acid and beta-carotene. For P. paniculata, the highest SFE yield was obtained at 200 bar/50 degrees C (0.22%, dry basis d.b.), while the best extraction condition for P. glomerata was obtained at 200 bar/30 degrees C (0.18%, d.b.). The higher extract yields obtained by LPSE were 2.0% and 5.8% (w/w, d.b.) for P. paniculata and P. glomerata, respectively, both obtained with methanol as extraction solvent. From the overall extraction curve of P. glomerata, it was possible to obtain the kinetic parameters of extraction; the duration of the CER (constant extraction rate) period was determined as 134 min. The TLC plates showed the possible presence of flavonoids in the ethanolic extract for both Pfaffia species. The antioxidant activity analysis detected that LPSE extracts had higher activity than SFE extracts. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.