Common use of
antimutagens and
anticarcinogens in everyday
life is an effective
measure for preventing
human cancer and
genetic diseases.
Antioxidant properties of
tea have vast potential as
protective agents against diverse
toxic effects. The present study was aimed to evaluate the
role of aqueous clonal
tea extracts (
green tea, oolong
tea and
black tea) in modulating the genotoxic damage induced by
cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly used chemotherapeutic
drug and a well-known
mutagen and
clastogen. All the three
tea extracts at 1 and 2% concentration did not increase the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic
erythrocytes (MPE) in
bone marrow cells of
mice when administered individually. The
tea extracts decreased the micronuclei (MN) induced by CP. Therefore, regular intake of
tea may improve the
antioxidant status in in vivo and thereby reduce the
risk of
cancer and
coronary heart disease.