Evaluation of the protective effect of Ilex paraguariensis and Camellia sinensis extracts on the prevention of oxidative damage caused by ultraviolet radiation

• Green tea and mate tea present anti-carcinogenic activity.
• We investigated the protective effects of green and mate teas against radiation.
• Oral and topic treatment with green tea and mate tea prevented lipid peroxidation.
• Oral and topic treatment with mate tea prevented DNA damage.
• Topic treatment with green tea and mate tea prevented protein carbonylation.

We evaluated the effects green and mate teas on oxidative and DNA damages in rats exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Were utilized 70 adult male Wistar rats that received daily oral or topic green or mate tea treatment during exposed to radiation by seven days. After, animals were killed by decapitation. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive species levels, protein oxidative damage were evaluated in skin and DNA damage in blood. Our results show that the rats exposed to ultraviolet radiation presented DNA damage in blood and increased protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation in skin. Oral and topic treatment with green tea and mate tea prevented lipid peroxidation, both treatments with mate tea also prevented DNA damage. However, only topic treatment with green tea and mate tea prevented increases in protein carbonylation. Our findings contribute to elucidate the beneficial effects of green tea and mate tea, here in demonstrated by the antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties presented by these teas.