Dietary intervention with iron and black tea infusion in reducing cytotoxicity of arsenic.
The relative efficacy of infusion of black tea leaf, Camellia sinensis (Linn.) O. Kuntze, (Theaceae), and iron as freshly prepared aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate in reducing the cytotoxic effects of arsenic, was tested in bone marrow cells of laboratory bred Swiss albino mice. Ferrous sulphate and tea given alone did not induce chromosomal breakage to any appreciable extent. Tea decreased chromosome damage induced by arsenic to a significant extent, while the addition of ferrous sulphate did not alter the protective action of tea against arsenic. Such protection against arsenic cytotoxicity by prolonged dietary administration of black tea infusion--a common routine beverage--is of importance in view of widespread exposure of human populations to arsenic damage through drinking water from tubewells in Eastern India and Bangladesh.
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan 99, Calcutta 700 026, India. podderspodde@vsnl.net
Sandeep
S
Poddar
D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013662:Tea
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013662:Tea; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D001151:Arsenic