Radiation protective effect of green tea extract in mice irradiated with gamma rays

The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation protective effect of daily oral consumption (for one week/one month) and single oral dose of green tea extract against gamma irradiation in mice.

This study was performed on 60 adult male Balb/c mice weighing 25 to 30 gr in 6 equal groups. These groups include control, only irradiated, daily consumption of 200 mg/kg of green tea extract for one week and without irradiation, irradiated group after consumption of 200 mg/kg extract for one week, irradiation after 200 mg/kg oral consumption of green tea extract for one month, and irradiation 2 hours after eating 800 mg/kg of green tea extract.

The results demonstrated that the oral consumption of green tea extract before irradiation significantly decreased MnPCE (51% decrease, P<0.0001) and MnNCE (28% decrease, P<0.05), and increased PCE/PCE + NCE ratio (12% increase, P<0.0001) compared to the only-irradiated group. The percentage of DNA in tail and apoptotic comets decreased significantly with consuming green tea extract (continues or single dose) (P<0.001).

Oral consumption of green tea extract in both single and continuous doses had radiation protection significantly, and these effects were more in the case of continuous consumption than single consumption.