Objective-The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and black tea polyphenol (Polyphenon-B; P-B) as well as in vivo inhibitory effects on the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinomas.Design-Antioxidant activity was screened using a panel of assays including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical anion (OH • ), superoxide anion (O 2•− ), and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging assays as well as assay for reducing power. The chemopreventive potential of bLF and P-B was assessed in the HBP model based on the modulatory effects on DMBA-induced oxidative DNA damage as well as the expression of proteins associated with carcinogen activation (CYP1A1, CYP1B1), cell proliferation (cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; PCNA, glutathione S-transferase pi; GST-P), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor; VEGF, VEGF receptor 1; VEGFR1), and invasion and metastasis (matrix metalloproteinase-9; MMP-9 and tissue inhibitors of MMP-2; TIMP-2).Results-Both bLF and P-B showed high radical scavenging activity and reductive potential. Although administration of bLF and P-B alone suppressed DMBA-induced HBP tumors, combined administration of bLF and P-B was more effective in inhibiting HBP carcinogenesis by inhibiting oxidative DNA damage, carcinogen activation, cell proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis.Conclusion-Our study suggests that the antioxidative property of bLF and P-B may be responsible for chemoprevention of HBP carcinogenesis by modulating multiple molecular targets.