The Fe3+ reducing power (FRAP) of the extract was determined by the method of with slight modifications. The volumes were scaled down to accommodate microtiter plate volumes. The FRAP reagent was prepared by mixing 10 ml of 300 mM acetate buffer with 1 ml of 10 mM TPTZ (2,4,6 tripyridyl-S-triazine) in 40 mM of HCl and 1 ml of 20 mM of FeCl3.6H2O. Then 3 ll of tea extract, standard or positive control and 9 ll of water were added to 90 ll of FRAP reagent. Absorbance readings were measured instantly upon addition of the FRAP reagent at 593 nm every 10 s for 4 min. The ferric reducing activity was determined by plotting a standard curve of FeSO4.7H2O (0–1000 lmol/ l). Results were expressed as mmol ferric reducing activity of theextracts per g of dried extract.