2.4.5.2. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay used, with fluorescein as the ‘‘fluorescent probe’’, was that described by Barba et al. (2012). The automated ORAC assay was carried out on a Wallac 1420 VICTOR2 multilabel counter (Perkin–Elmer, USA) with fluorescence filters, for an excitation wavelength of 485 nm and an emission wavelength of 535 nm. The measurements were made in plates with 96 white flat bottom wells (Sero-Wel, BibbySterilin Ltd., Stone, UK). The reaction was performed at 37 C, as the reaction was started by thermal decomposition of AAPH in 75 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).