The present work was carriedout to investigate the effects of green tea catechin
on oxidative damage in microwave exposed male albino rats. The rats were divided
into three equal groups each composed of 7 rats. The first group was the control one.
The second group was the microwave exposed for 10 minutes for 6 days. The third
group rats were exposed to microwave for 6 days and received catechin in a dose of
7gm/diet during microwave exposure which was extended for 4 weeks after exposure.
At the end of the experiment the rats were sacrificed and the hearts were dissected
and heart microsomes were prepared.
The results of the work showed significant increase by microwave exposure in the
levels of cytochrome P450and NADPH reductase activity that were significantly
reduced by catechin supplementation. Significant reduction by microwave in
superoxide dismutase glutathione peroxidase and catalase were increased
significantly by catechin. The levels of superoxide radical, lipid peroxide and
carbonyl value were significantly increased by microwave exposure and were
improved by catechin supplementation. The lipofuscin content of heart was also
increased by microwave exposure and was improved by catechin supplementation.
It is concluded that, the mixed function oxidase system were activated by
microwave exposure, the formation of superoxide radical, lipid peroxide , oxidized
protein and lipofuscin were increased and the antioxidative defense system was
weakened in heart tissue, but the oxidative damage was significantly reduced by
catechin supplementation.