ABSTRACT
Several independent research studies and epidemiological observations have shown that consumption of green tea reduces the risk of cancer. The anti-carcinogenic effect of green tea has been attributed to its polyphenol constituent. Generally, most of the chemotherapeutic agents act as anticancer drugs by apoptosis of cancer cells. The selective apoptosis of cancer cells is attributed to the antioxidant responsive elements and epidermal growth factor receptors present in the green tea polyphenols. DNA strand break causes the anti-carcinogenic effect. A wide array of assay protocols is available to study the various impressions left behind by different mutagens on the human chromosomes. The commonly used procedures are chromosomal aberration, micronuclei, sister chromatid exchanges and comet assays. Chromosomal aberration is the first step in the process of cell death. The current study was aimed at studying the effect of chronic exposure of green tea extract on peripheral human lymphocyte [PHL] and to determine its effect on chromosomes. The study has ruled out the possible mechanism of DNA double strand break, which is a major contributor of dicentric type of Chromosomal aberration. Although the total aberration showed a linear increase as concentration of Green Tea Polyphenols increased, it does not contribute to the process of cell death unlike dicentric anaphase bridge formation, a major contributor for cell death