In vitro Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Sister Chromatid Exchange in the Lymphocytes Exposed to Glyphosate

Abstract

Purpose: Green tea is known as a potent anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogen, and genetic protector. Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) is a widely used non-selective herbicide that causes DNA damage. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of green tea in human blood lymphocytes exposed to glyphosate using the Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) frequency method. Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained from 10 volunteers and cultured through four different conditions. Four groups were divided into control, glyphosate only (300 ng/mL), glyphosate and low ($20{mu}m$) concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and glyphosate and high ($100{mu}m$) concentrations of EGCG. Results: The glyphosate exposed groups had a higher mean SCE frequency ($10.33{pm}2.50$) than the control group ($6.38{pm}2.28$, p<0.001). The low concentrations of EGCG groups had a lower mean SCE frequency ($9.91{pm}1.93$) than the glyphosate-only group, although this difference was not significant (p=0.219). However, the high concentration group ($9.49{pm}1.85$) had a significantly lower SCE frequency than the glyphosate-only group (p=0.001). Conclusion: EGCG has a gene protective effect in human lymphocytes exposed to the genotoxicity of glyphosate in the case of high concentrations.