A Modification of the ABTS• Decolorization Method and an Insight into Its Mechanism

A modification of the ABTS• decolorization assay for plate readers is presented. In our modification, 200 µL of ABTS solution of absorbance 1.0 at 734 nm was added with an antioxidant and decreased absorbance resulted. For comparison of antioxidant activities in the kinetic assay of absorbance decrease, concentration dependence of absorbance decrease and of area under curve are recommended. “Fast” and “slow” antioxidants were distinguished: while the reactions of “fast” antioxidants ABTS• were completed within seconds, the reactions of “slow” antioxidants were not finished after 6 min. We recommend reaction time of 60 min for assays of such antioxidants, blood plasma and plant extracts. Sub-additive interactions between some antioxidants (ascorbate and Trolox, hispidulin and Trolox, and glutathione and ascorbate) were found in the ABTS• decolorization; possible reasons for such interactions are discussed.