In the past few decades, ROS-induced oxidative stress has been recognized as a contributing factor in the development of a range of chronic conditions and diseases.1 Consequently, antioxidants, both endogenous and exogenous (ingested), capable of neutralizing or quenching oxygen radicals, quickly came into focus of the research community. In the wake of the enthusiasm created by naturally-derived antioxidants, a need emerged for a diagnostic technique capable of quantitatively measuring the scavenging activity against oxygen radicals. Hence, the original Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity (ORAC) assay was born. Let's take a brief look at the history behind the ORAC assay.
