The present study evaluated the radical scavenging-linked antioxidant activity of hexane/80% ethanol extracts from several types of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) derived from varieties arbequina, hojiblanca, picual, their blends, and pure olive oil (POO). The antioxidant potential of the olive oil extracts was assessed by radical scavenging assays using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and hydroxyl radical, as well as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion inhibitory activities. Electron donating ability (EDA) using DPPH assay of 80% ethanol extracts from EVOOs, except arbequina oil, was significantly higher than POO. EDA was markedly higher in blended and picual EVOOs than the extracts from arbequina and hojiblanca EVOOs (P < 0.05). Similarly, ABTS radical scavenging activity of the extracts from the EVOOs was in order of picual EVOO > blended EVOO > hojiblanca EVOO >or= POO >or= arbequina EVOO. Further, the superoxide anion scavenging activity of blended, picual, and arbequina EVOOs was significantly higher than that of hojiblanca EVOO and POO, which were barely detectable. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of arbequina and hojiblanca was higher than that of blended, picual EVOOs, and POO. In addition, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of the extracts from blended, arbequina, hojiblanca, picual EVOOs, and POO was 63.1 +/- 3.1%, 44.4 +/- 10.2%, 52.0 +/- 2.7%, 71.8 +/- 2.5%, and 35.7 +/- 10.0%, respectively. Our results indicate that ethanol extracts of several EVOOs contained higher radical scavenging and antioxidant activity than the POO. This antioxidant potential is partly due to the phenolic compounds present in different olive oil grade and is influenced by cultivar type.