*3.6. Phenol Content*

The total phenolic content was determined by using a modified Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method. Aliquots of extracts (100 μL) were mixed with 500 μL of Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagen<sup>t</sup> and 500 μL of 7.5% sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). After 2 h of incubation at room temperature in the dark, the absorbance was spectrophotometrically measured at 760 nm. Gallic acid, ranging from 2.5 to 100 μg/mL, was used as a standard. The results were expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of dry extract.
