Research published in Mutation Research found that Rooibos tea inhibited premalignant changes in the tissue-cultured mouse cells that were exposed to X-rays. The inhibiting action took place when cells were treated with as little a 2 percent Rooibos solution (roughly equivalent to 2/3 cup a day for humans) and peaked when cells were treated with 10 percent solution (a little more than 3 cups). At the higher concentration, the rate of the transformation was no greater than that of normal, non-irradiated cells.  Rooibos also protected mice against gamma radiation. Mice treated with 1 ml of Rooibos tea two hrs. before irradiation experienced less DNA damage than untreated mice. (For a human, this equals about 4 liters or 7 pints of double-strength tea.) One molecule, luteolin, appears to be responsible for the greatest inhibition. 

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