Anticaries Effects of Polyphenolic Compounds from Japanese Green Tea

Abstract

The dental caries inhibiting effect of the extract from Japanese green tea, one of the most popular drinks in Japan, was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The crude tea polyphenolic compounds (designated Sun-phenon®) from the leaf of Camellia sinensis were found to effectively inhibit the attachment of Streptococcus mutans strain JC-2 (serotype c) to saliva-coated hydroxyapatide discs. Sunphenon was also inhibitory to water-insoluble glucan formation from sucrose by crude glucosyltransferase of S. mutans JC-2 (c). Among the tea catechins tested, (––)-epigallocatechin gallate and (––)-epicatechin gallate showed the most potent inhibition of the glucosyltransferase activity. Finally, significantly lower caries scores were observed in specific pathogen free rats infected with S. mutans JC-2 (c) and fed a cariogenic diet and/or drinking water containing 0.05% Sunphenon as compared with control rats not receiving polyphenolic compounds.

Effect of Green Tea Varnish on Depth of Root Caries

“…51 In vitro studies have shown that catechins present in green tea prevent adhesion of Streptococci to tooth surfaces. Otake et al 52 concluded that Sunphenon (a commercial mixture of catechins extracted from green tea leaves) prevents adhesion of S. mutans to hydroxyapatite disks covered with saliva. Similar results were reported by Xiao et al, 53 which confirm the favorable properties of green tea.…”

Health benefits of Green and Black Tea: A Review

“…In vivo animal studies have shown that specific pathogen-free rats infected with Streptococcus mutans and then fed with a cariogenic diet containing green tea polyphenols have significantly lower caries scores [54]. Several studies have indicated that polyphenols from green tea inhibit growth, acid production, metabolism, and glucosyltransferase enzyme activity of S. mutans and dental plaque bacteria [55].…”

Evaluation of the Effect of Green Tea Extract on Mouth Bacterial Activity in the Presence of Propylene Glycol

“…Compounds present in both green and oolong teas have been studied on dental caries in a simple form and individually (6,7). Animals and humans given tea compounds in their drinking water develop fewer dental caries and less plaque formation than those drinking plain water (8)(9)(10)(11). Drinking green tea may also help prevent sore throats and colds, since it helps fight the bacteria harboring in the throat (12), another reason that encouraged us to work on Iranian green tea other than its healing effect on burn and wound, which was also in the area of our studies (13,14), was a traditional belief for its masking the bad breath.…”