TEAC assay was carried out as described by Miller and Rice-
Evans (1997) with some modifications. A distilled water solution
of 5 mM aqueous solution ABTS diammonium salt was filtered
through MnO2 powder on a filter paper (Whatman No. 5) in a
Büchner funnel. Excess MnO2 was then eliminated by filtering
through a 0.2 lm Acrodisc PVDF syringe filter. This solution was
then diluted in PBS (pH 7.40), to an absorbance of Ca. 0.700 at
734 nm. Trolox standards were prepared and measured at final
concentrations 0–25 mM. Stock solutions (0.2 mL) and the Trolox
standard were mixed with each 2 mL of the ABTS radical cation
solution and then stirred vigorously. The absorbance was monitored
at 734 nm over a 30 min period using a spectrophotometer.
The antioxidant activities were estimated at three different concentrations
within the range of the Trolox dose-absorbance response
curve. Antioxidant activities were expressed as mM trolox
equivalent (TE)/lg lycopene.