Potential Anti-Radiation Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols: Evidence from Animal Studies

Green tea has been widely studied for its potential health benefits, including its anti-radiation effects. In 1995, Du et al. conducted a study on rats to investigate the impact of green tea polyphenols (GTP) on radiation exposure. The rats were given GTP orally for one week and were then exposed to 60Co radiation, followed by three more days of GTP treatment. The study found that GTP enhanced the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced lipid peroxidation (LPO) in blood and liver, and decreased myocardial lipofuscin levels.

In another study conducted by Cao et al. in the same year, the protective effect of GTP on radiation injury in mice was examined. The mice were exposed to 60Co radiation and then treated with GTP. The study found that GTP had a significant effect on preventing the loss of white blood cells and platelets caused by radiation exposure, and it also protected the normal immune function of the spleen and thymus. Additionally, GTP increased the number of immunocytes, colony-forming units of spleen (CFU-S), and mitosis index of granulocytes in the bone marrow. Furthermore, GTP significantly reduced the formation of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes induced by 60Co radiation in bone marrow.

These studies suggest that GTP may have potential anti-radiation effects, providing protection against the harmful effects of radiation exposure. Further research is needed to explore the exact mechanisms of GTP’s anti-radiation effects and its potential application in clinical practice. However, the results of these studies suggest that green tea consumption may be beneficial in protecting against radiation-induced damage.