Antimicrobial properties of polyphenols

in green tea & black tea

Tan Guo Jun

Kevin Lingga Makmur
Introduction

 Tea is an infusion of variously processed

leaves of one of the varieties of an
evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis.
 Though it has little nutritional value, tea
is refreshing, stimulating, and produces
a feeling of well-being.
(attributed to caffeine)
Introduction

 Other components in tea, notably,

polyphenols, may also contribute to the
effects of tea, in view of their known
pharmacological properties
 Most widely drunk beverage in the world.
 3.47 million tonnes of tea produced in
2005.
Polyphenols

A group of chemical substances found

in plants

 More than 1 phenol group per molecule

Polyphenols

 Polyphenols can be further subdivided

into tannins, phenolic acids derivates,
and flavonoids

 Classification is by structure
Classification
Flavanoids

A class of plant secondary metabolites

(secondary metabolites are organic compounds not directly
involved in normal growth, development or reproduction of
organisms)

 Most commonly known for their

antioxidant activity
 Also known for show anti-allergic, anti-
inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-
cancer activity.
Flavanoids

 Beneficial effects of fruit, vegetables,

and tea or even red wine have been
attributed to flavonoid compounds rather
than to known nutrients and vitamins.
Flavanols
 Kaempferol
Flavanols
 Quercitin
Flavanols
 Myricetin
Flavanols

 Flavanols quercitin, kaempferol and

myricetin showed activity against gram-
positive bacteria and phytopathogenic
fungi (pathogenic to plant)
Catechin - Structure

 Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidant

plant metabolites,
 More specifically, flavonoids called
flavan-3-ols.

 There are 4 main types of catechin

Catechin - Structure
Catechin - Source

 Largest source in the human diet is from

the tea-plant Camellia sinensis.
(includes white/black/green/oolong tea)
Catechin - Source

 Constitutes about 25% of dry mass of

tea leaves.
 Total amount depends on many factors
like genetic variation, variation in
growing location, light, season, and
altitude.
Catechin - Source

 Alsopresent in the human diet in

chocolate, fruits, vegetables and wine
and are found in many other plant
species.
Catechin - Antimicrobial
 Can inhibit growth of many bacterial species

 Possess anticariogenic properties (“tooth-

friendly”)

 Powerful
antagonists of human
immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase
(reverse transcriptase is a DNA polymerase enzyme that
transcribes single-stranded RNA into double-stranded DNA)
Catechin - Antimicrobial

 Several mechanisms of action in the growth

inhibition of bacteria are involved, such as
destabilisation of cytoplasmic membrane,
permeabilisation of plasma membrane,

Damage to the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli by catechin-

copper (II) complexes.
Hoshino N, Kimura T, Yamaji A, Ando T.
Department of Pharmacy, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu,
Japan.
Catechin - Antimicrobial

 In the presence of a nonlethal

concentration of Cu(II), E.coli cells were
killed by EGC & EC.
 Cell killing was accompanied by a
depletion in both the ATP and potassium
pools of the cells, but the DNA double
strand was not broken, indicating that
the bactericidal activity of catechins in
the presence of Cu(II) results from
damage to the cytoplasmic membrane.
Catechin - Antimicrobial

 Inhibition
of extracellular microbial
enzymes, direct actions on microbial
metabolism and deprivation of the
substrates required for microbial growth.
Catechin - Antimicrobial

 Inhibits the bacterial enzyme DNA

gyrase by binding to the ATP binding
site of 1 of its 2 subunits, known as
gyrase B
Significance

 Tea is an abundant, inexpensive,

renewable resource.
 Use of plants as source of remedies for
the treatment of many diseases dated
back to prehistory and people of all
continents have this old tradition.
Significance

 Over 25% of prescribed medicines in

industrialized countries derived directly
or indirectly from plants.
 In developing countries where antibiotics
are unaffordable investigation on
antimicrobial activities from plants may
still be needed.
Significance

 In developing countries, notably in West

Africa, new drugs are not often
affordable. Up to 80% of population use
medicinal plants as remedies.
Significance

 Any antibiotic has a limited effective life

 Over-prescription of conventional
antibiotics
 People who prefer self medication, more
autonomy over their medical care.
Significance

 Researchers noted statistically improved

dental health in children who drank at
least one cup of tea daily compared with
the dental health of those whose intake
was less than 3 cups per week.
References
Increasing the Oxidative Stress Response Allows Escherichia coli
To Overcome Inhibitory Effects of Condensed TanninsAlexandra H. Smith,1,2†
James A. Imlay,3 and Roderick I. Mackie1,4*

Antimicrobial Properties of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)J. M. T. HAMILTON-MILLER

Antimicrobial effect of polyphenols from apple skins on human bacterial pathogens Ma

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of polyphenols from ethnomedicinal plants of Bu

References
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/gre_0319.shtml

Antimicrobial activity of 3-O-acyl-(-)-epicatechin and 3-O-acyl-(+)-catechin derivative

KI DUK PARK ; YOON SUN PARK ; SUNG JIN CHO ; WON SUCK SUN ; SUN
Thank You

Any Questions?