*2.6. Antioxidant Assays*

#### 2.6.1. Ferric-Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay

The FRAP assay was carried out in accordance with the method described previously [25]. Absorbance was measured at 593 nm. l-Ascorbic acid was used as a standard, and the results were expressed as μmole ascorbic acid equivalents per milligram of dry weight (μM AAE/g DW) of the test samples.

#### 2.6.2. Trolox Equivalent Absorbance Capacity (TEAC) Assay

The total anti-oxidant activity of the test sample was measured using previously described methods [26]. Absorbance was read at 734 nm at 25 ◦C in a plate reader, and the results were expressed as μmole Trolox equivalents per milligram of dry weight (μM TE/g DW) of the test samples.

#### 2.6.3. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Assay

ORAC assay was done according to the previous method [27]. ORAC values were expressed as micromoles of trolox equivalents (TE) per milligram of the test sample. Samples without a perfect curve were further diluted, and the dilution factors were used in the calculations of such samples.
