Different extraction processes of dittany (Origanum dictamnus) for the recovery of extracts enriched with bioactive components were examined in this work. More specifically, hydrodistillation, extraction with a liquid organic solvent, supercritical CO2 extraction, as well as a combination of supercritical and liquid extraction were applied in order to recover improved extracts with respect to their antioxidant activity. The latter was determined by using a free radical method (DPPH circle). The antioxidant activities of the extracts obtained were compared with those of carvacrol, a main component of dittany, and BHT, a common synthetic antioxidant. It is shown that the combination of the conventional liquid extraction with supercritical extraction could be a promising alternative process for the recovery of extracts enriched with bioactive compounds. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.