Neuroprotective effects of white tea against oxidative stress-induced toxicity in striatal cells

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and represents an important source of antioxidants mainly catechins that confer beneficial effects in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, age-related disorders or cancer. In the central nervous system, oxidative stress caused by increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species represents an important mechanism for neuronal dysfunction and cell loss in different neurodegenerative disorders. The neuroprotective effects of green-tea-derived polyphenols have extensively been demonstrated in different models of neurotoxicity. However, few data have been reported on the antioxidant activity of white tea extracts in the nervous system. In the present study, we demonstrate that white tea extracts protect striatal cell lines against oxidative stress-mediated cell death. The effects of white tea on protection of striatal cell cultures are likely associated with the antioxidant properties of white tea components since neuronal cell loss induced by nonoxidative insults such as D1 dopamine receptor activation cannot be prevented by pre-treatment with white tea. Altogether our results suggest that regular consumption of white tea may contribute to reduce oxidative stress associated with brain injury and be clinically useful for treating age-related and neurodegenerative disorders.