Abstract:Effects of the peculiar compositions in tea plant on free radical s induced by radiationwas investigated.Results showed that the contents of free radicals in aborescence large-leafvarieties were more than that in shrubby middle-small leaf varieties under the same irradia- tion dose.Dose-effect curve for free radical contents in tea varieties could be discribed withan exponential equation y=9.04-5.35/x.The contents of free radical and the radioseusi- tivities were related to the contents of catechin,tea polyphenols,flavone glycoside and caf- feine. Tbe main factor that affected free radical content in tea plant was catechin. Resultsalso showed that there was a quantitative effect between(-)- EGCG and free radical :(-)-EGCG could induce the incrcase of free radical contents in tea at low concentration but scav-enge free radicals at high concentration.