Antibacterial Substances in Japanese Green Tea Extract against Streptococcus mutans,a Cariogenic Bacterium |
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| Authors: | Senji Sakanaka Mujo Kim Makoto Taniguchi Takehiko Yamamoto |
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| Institution: | 1. Central Research Laboratories of Taiyo Kagaku, Co., Ltd., 1–3, Takaramachi, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 510, Japan;2. Faculty of Science, Osaka City University, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558, Japan |
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| Abstract: | An extract of Japanese green tea, one of the most popular drinks in Japan, was an inhibitor of the growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium responsible for causing dental caries. The analysis of the extract revealed that the main antibacterial components of the extract were several polyphenolic compounds, especially gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg). GC was the most active component and its minimum inhibitory concentration against the bacterium was around 250 μg per ml. |
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| Keywords: | Lactarius vellereus Lactarius subpiperatus lactarane sesquiterpene plant growth regulator |
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