detected catechin as the compound with the highest level of
concentration in the infusion of I. paraguariensis samples. Both
these compounds can be related to the high antioxidant prop-
erties of mate since Marques and Farah (2009) suggested that
the chlorogenic acids are free radical and metal scavengers,
and
Rusak
et
al.
(2008)
stated
that
catechins
contribute
to
the
antioxidant activity of plant extracts.