Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide as an infusion of leaves and is valued for its medicinal properties. Tea is a rich source of polyphenols called flavonoids, effective antioxidants found throughout the plant kingdom. The slight astringent, bitter taste of green tea is attributed to polyphenols. A group of flavonoids in green tea are known as catechins, which are quickly absorbed into the body and are thought to contribute to some of the potential health benefits of tea. The fresh tea leaves contain four major catechins as colourless water soluble compounds. epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Epidemiologic observations and laboratory studies have indicated that tea polyphenols act as antioxidants in vitro by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and chelating redoxactive transition metal ions and hence tea may reduce the risk of a variety of illnesses, including cancer and coronary heart disease. In this study we seen the antigenotoxic effect of green tea extract against genotoxic damage induced by two anabolic steroids Trenbolone and Methyltestosterone in cultured human lymphocytes, both in absence and presence of metabolic activation. The results prove the antigenotoxic potential of green tea extract. Because the epidemiologic studies and research findings in laboratory animals have shown the antigenotoxic potential of tea polyphenols, the usefulness of tea polyphenols for various human diseases like cancer and coronary heart disease etc should be evaluated in clinical trials.

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