A composition comprising caffeoylshikimic acids, protocatechuic acid, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoylshikimic acids and their derivatives extracted from any part of oil palm including but not confined to the vegetation liquor of palm oil milling and palm oil mill effluent, and a method for use in the preparation of a composition containing caffeoylshikimic acids, protocatechuic acid, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoylshikimic acids and their derivatives. The method includes the steps of pre-concentrating an extract containing the caffeoylshikimic acids, protocatechuic acid, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoylshikimic acids and their derivatives and isolating said caffeoylshikimic acids, protocatechuic acid, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoylshikimic acids and their derivatives from said extract by liquid chromatography, wherein the elution activity of said caffeoylshikimic acids, protocatechuic acid, hydroxytyrosol, hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeoylshikimic acids and their derivatives vary depending on the stationary phase and the composition of the mobile phase.