Ethanol is preferred for the extraction of antioxidant
compounds mainly because of its lower toxicity Karadeniz
et al.(2005). Methanol extract ofthe chamomile and fennel showed
the highest TPC, 3.7 and 3.4 GAE (mg/g), respectively. These differences
in the amount of TPC may be due to varied efficiency
of the extracting solvents to dissolve endogenous compounds.
The ability of different solvents to extract TPC was of the order:
methanol > ethanol > diethyl ether and finally hexane. Conforti et al.
(2006) reported TPC (chlorogenic acid equivalents)from extracts of
cultivated and wild fennel to be 100 and 151 mg/g extract, respectively.
According to Mata et al. (2007) the ethanol extract of fennel
seed revealed 63.1 mg/g TPC (pyrogallol equivalents).