PIXE and RBS analysis of serum specimens of rats fed with tea extracts to ascertain elemental absorption

Abstract

Antioxidants are compounds that easily donate an electron to become oxidized, while oxidants readily accept these electrons. An antioxidant thus slows down or prevents the oxidation of other molecules. Enzymes normally counteract these effects. Various trace elements are incorporated into the structure of enzymes and are the center of activity. In this study, liquid herbal extracts of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and green tea were fed to male Wistar rats. The objective was to ascertain the effect of these extracts on the trace element absorption and to correlate these effects with the enzymes activities.