**2.7 ABTS radical anion scavenging activity**

ABTS radical anions were used according to the method of (Kim et al., 2003). In brief, 1.0 mM of 2, 2'-azobis (2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a radical initiator, was mixed with 2.5 mM ABTS in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4) and the mixed solution was heated in a water bath at 68 °C for 13 min. The resulting blue-green ABTS solution was adjusted to the absorbance of 0.650 ± 0.020 at 734 nm with additional phosphate-buffered saline. 20 µl of sample were added to 980 µL of the ABTS radical solution. The mixture incubated in a 37°C water bath under restricted light for 10 min. A control (20 µL 50% methanol and 980 mL of ABTS radical solution) was run with each series of samples. The decrease of the absorbance at 734 nm was measured (Cary 50 Scan UV-Visible apparatus) at an endpoint after 10 min. Total antioxidant capacity of plant parts is expressed as mg / g of dry weight of vitamin C equivalents (VCEAC). The radical stock solution had to be freshly prepared and all measurements of the tested samples were repeated at least three times.

#### **2.8 DPPH radical scavenging activity**

The DPPH radical scavenging activity was determined according to the method of Kim et *al.*, (2002). The DPPH radical (100 µM) was dissolved in 80% of aqueous methanol. The plant extract solutions, 0.1 mL, were added to 2.9 mL of the methanolic DPPH solution and the mixture was vigorously shaken and was kept at 23 °C in the dark for 30 min. The decrease of the absorbance of the resulting solution was monitored at 517 nm (Cary 50 Scan UV-Visible apparatus) after 30 min. A control, which consists of 0.1 mL of 50% aqueous methanol and 2.9 mL of DPPH solution, was prepared. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of plant extracts is expressed as mg/g of dry weight of vitamin C equivalents (VCEAC). This measure was taken after 30 min reaction time. The radical stock solution had to be daily prepared and the tests were repeated at least three times.
