ANTIMUTAGENICITY AND CATECHIN CONTENT OF SOLUBLE INSTANT TEAS

The antimutagenic properties of soluble instant teas were examined usi ng the bacterial Ames assay, Inhibition of the numbers of revertants i nduced from a number of known mutagens indicates that aqueous extracts of instant teas have antimutagenic activity and antioxidative propert ies, and can inhibit nitrosation reactions, Despite a significant redu ction in the amounts of major green tea catechins, quantified using re versed-phase HPLC with electrochemical detection, no differences in an timutagenicity were observed between the instant teas, a black ferment ed tea and a green tea. Oxidation of polyphenolic compounds which occu rs during the production of instant tea does not therefore decrease th e antioxidant, free radical scavenging and antimutagenic properties, T his suggests that catechins are not the only compounds responsible for the protective effects of teas.