Each sample (2 g) was extracted with 10 mL methanol for 24 h. 125 ml of the methanolic extract was mixed with 500 ml distilled water in a test tube, followed by the addition of 125 ml of Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, and allowed to stand for 3 min. Then 1250 ml of 7% sodium carbonate solution was added and the final volume was made up to 3 mL with distilled water. Each sample was allowed to stand for 90 min at room temperature and measured at 760 nm against the blank on a Cecil BioQuest CE 2501 spectrophotometer. The linear reading of standard curve was from 0 to 300 mg of gallic acid per mL. Results were expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent per kg of tomato fw
(mg GAE/kg fw).