Dietary intervention with iron and black tea infusion in reducing cytotoxicity of arsenic.

The relative efficacy of infusion of black tea leaf, Camellia sinensis (Linn.) O. Kuntze, (Theaceae), and iron as freshly prepared aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate in reducing the cytotoxic effects of arsenic, was tested in bone marrow cells of laboratory bred Swiss albino mice. Ferrous sulphate and tea given alone did not induce chromosomal breakage to any appreciable extent. Tea decreased chromosome damage induced by arsenic to a significant extent, while the addition of ferrous sulphate did not alter the protective action of tea against arsenic. Such protection against arsenic cytotoxicity by prolonged dietary administration of black tea infusion--a common routine beverage--is of importance in view of widespread exposure of human populations to arsenic damage through drinking water from tubewells in Eastern India and Bangladesh.