title: Anti-genotoxic effects of tea catechins against reactive oxygen species in human lymphoblastoid cells.
abstract: Using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in WIL2-NS cells, we investigated the effects of six tea constituents, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg), (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECg), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (+)-catechin (+C) and gallic acid (GA), on chromosomal damage in two ways; induction by each component on its own and prevention against treatment of reactive oxygen species (ROS). None of the tea constituents induced chromosomal damage at <10 microM. On the other hand, EGCg, EGC, ECg, +C and GA prevented H(2)O(2)-induced chromosomal damage in a dose-dependent manner with a significant effect detected at 1 microM. Chromosomal damage induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide was apparently prevented by EGCg and ECg at 0.3 microM, but not by EGC and GA even at 10 microM, suggesting that the galloyl group linked to flavan-3-ol is needed for the observed protective effect. These results suggest that physiological concentration of tea constituents are not genotoxic but rather anti-genotoxic against ROS, although their preventive effects are slightly different depending on their chemical structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science Research for Health, IAI National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8636, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugisawa
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenech
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umegaki
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide