Mulberry leaves contain polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids. Their extracts can be a valuable component of the pro health food. The objective of the research study was to optimize the process of extracting phenolic compounds from mulberry leaves and to assess the antiradical activity of derived extracts by a DPPH^• test, with the use of a response surface methodology (RSM). Based on RSM, the highest contents of polyphenols and the highest antioxidant activity were obtained within the selected ranges of the ethanol concentration in water and at a selected temperature of the extraction process. The predicted values did not differ significantly from the experimentally determined values (p ≤ 0.001). The rate of ethanol concentration in the selected extract was 65 %, and the temperature of extraction process was 63 °C.