A different set of mechanisms might have been at work in the current study, including additive and synergistic effects of various phytochemicals, release of unidentified phytochemicals from the matrix, and/or pressure-induced isomerization of antioxidants such as lycopene to more bioactive conformations(9,24,27). The unique low moisture and high-pressure, shear, and temperature environment during thermomechanical extrusion processing may play a special role in this context.