Research of white tea's (Camellia sinensis L.) protective effect on Drosophila melanogaster, regarding mutagenic effect caused by certain antineoplastics

White tea is a form of the world's most popular non-water beverage, tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.), made from buds and immature tea leaves picked before the buds have fully opened, before the leaves have lost their white hair, without being subjected to procedures such as withering, drying and fermentation. In the present study, it has been aimed to determine the antigenotoxic activity of White Tea, against the genotoxic effect caused by two different alkylating antineoplastic cancer drugs Streptozotocin (STZ) and Cyclophosphamide (CP) in Drosophila melanogaster through the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART). During the application of SMART, two different mutant strains were used in the genome of D. melanogaster, with the determinant genes being respectively recessive flare (flr3) and multiple wing hairs (mwh). Trans-heterozygote larvae of 72± hours, obtained through crossbreeding of these two mutant strains, were chronically fed with white tea extract of different concentrations (0,625; 1,25; 2,50 and 5 mg/mL). In consequence of the relevant preliminary study performed, it was determined, white tea displayed no genotoxic effect, regardless of the concentration. In our study, the LD50 values of the relevant drugs were also found (STZ: 0,25 mg/mL, CP: 2,5 mg/mL), and it was determined, both drugs have a fairly high genotoxic effect (p<0,05). Afterwards, white tea extracts of different concentrations were applied to larvae simultaneously with cancer drugs. From the data obtained, it was determined that white tea extract, significantly reduced the Clone Induction Frequencies (CIF) in all treatment groups, by suppressing mutations enabling the formation of spots in wings, in parallel with increasing concentration. Also, when the Inhibition percentage rates were subjected to examination in order to determine white tea's reduction rate of genotoxic effect caused by cancer drugs, it was determined that the relevant rate was 55,79% in the 0,25STZ+2,5White Tea treatment group, and 60,00% in the 2,5SF+5White Tea treatment group. In conclusion, it was satisfied that, Streptozotocin and Cyclophosphamide drugs used in cancer treatments may create genotoxic effects even in healthy cells, and these effects may be reduced by additional white tea consumption.