Agricultural and Biological Chemistry · 1990 · 22 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesBiochemistryMicrobiologyFood ChemistryFood MicrobiologyGlycobiologyGlycan BiosynthesisGlycan DegradationMicrobial GlycobiologyPlant Cell Wall PolysaccharidesPolysaccharide FunctionPolysaccharide PropertiesAdherenceBacterial PolysaccharidesBeta-glucosidase ActivityCell Wall GlycosyltransferasesCell Wall Polysaccharide SynthesisMicrobial Polysaccharide ProductionStreptococcus SpeciesTea Polyphenols
Inhibitory effects of green tea polyphenols on glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutatis MT8148 and Streptococcus sohrinus 6715DP and on sucrose-dependent adherence of the bacterial cells were examined in vitro. The glucan synthesis by the bacterial glucosyltransf erase was strongly inhibited by (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECg) and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), the main components of the tea polyphenols. It was also demonstrated that ECg and EGCg interfered with the sucrose-dependent adherence of those bacterial cells at much smaller concentrations than those which were needed to inhibit the growth of the bacteria.