Abstract

Narendra K. Ambedkar , Shankar A. Priyanka and Satyajit Rukh

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidative potential and radioprotective ability of fermented black tea (FBT). Total polyphenol content in the FBT was found to be 148.30 ± 2.56 mg/g as determined by ferrous tartrate method. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging reached a maximum of 96% at 200 μg/ml of FBT and accordingly the reducing power also saturated at the very same concentration. Studies carried out with plasmid DNA revealed the ability of FBT to inhibit gamma radiation-induced single as well as double strand breaks. Prior administration of FBT to human lymphocytes significantly countered radiation-induced DNA damage as evaluated by micronuclei assay and chromosomal aberration study and cell death by trypan blue exclusion method. The results clearly indicate that FBT has significant potential to protect cellular system from radiation-induced damage and ability to scavenge free radicals might be playing an important role in its radioprotective manifestations.