Abstract
Background: Green tea is a good source of phenolic compounds which are known to possess antioxidant properties. Although there have been researches on the effect of fresh green tea leaves on oxidative stress, there is paucity of data on processed green teas consumed in Nigeria. 
 Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of green tea on oxidative stress biomarkers in Adult male Wister rats.
 Methods: Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), vitamins A, C and E activity of rats treated with green tea extract (GTE) were determined using standard methods. Thirty two (32) rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 fed only on normal rat chow. All groups except group I were oxidative stress induced with 1500mg/kg body weight (bw) of paracetamol orally for three consecutive days. Group 2 did not receive any treatment. Group 3 was treated with ascorbic acid (20mg/kg bw) for seven consecutive days while groups 4 to 6 were treated with 50, 100, 200 mg/kg bw of GTE respectively for seven consecutive days.
 Results: There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the MDA concentration in groups 4 to 6 compared with groups 1 to 3. Group 5 had the highest SOD activity, while group 2 recorded the highest CAT activity. However, the GPx activity showed non-significant (p>0.05) difference among all the groups. The vitamin A level of the groups 4 to 5 showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease compared with groups 1 to 3. However, vitamin C and E levels of groups 5 increased significantly (p<0.05) compared with group 2. 
 Conclusion: GTE consumption at 50, 100, 200 mg/kg bw for seven consecutive days caused reduction in serum MDA level and increased serum enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in rats.
Highlights
Free radicals are molecular species that are capable of existing independently and known to be electron donors or acceptors (1)
Table 2 shows the results of the effect of green tea on the malondialdehyde concentration (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in adult Wistar rats
It was observed that a significant (p
Summary
Free radicals are molecular species that are capable of existing independently and known to be electron donors or acceptors (1). As a result of the unpaired electrons, free radicals are highly reactive and unstable species and are able to damage essential biological molecules such as DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the nucleus and in the membranes of cells (2). They attack healthy cells of the body and their structure and functions are lost in the process. Conclusion: GTE consumption at 50, 100, 200 mg/kg bw for seven consecutive days caused reduction in serum MDA level and increased serum enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in rats
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