EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF GREEN TEA EXTRACT (EGCG) AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES IN VITRO

摘要

S. pyogenes (GAS) is the agent that is involved in acute infections that can lead to devastating life-threatening invasive infections. S. pyogenes cell-surface components such as lipoteichoic acid, hyaluronic acid capsule, M proteins, and laminin and collagen binding proteins are responsible for adhesion to human cells. Natural compounds have been associated with decreased adherence of bacteria to cells. The most widely studies of these compounds has been cranberry juice which is thought to disrupt cellular adherence by altering the local cellular. The purpose of this study was to determine if pre-treating or post-treating kidney epithelial cells (RMKEC) with Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) alters GAS's ability to adhere to the host cells. Our data indicates that pretreating or post treating the cells with EGCG (10μM, 30μM, or 50μM) inhibited the attachment of the bacteria to the cells in a dose dependent manner. The results also indicate that the remaining GAS bacteria attached to the cellular surface after a 24 hour period was unable to penetrate the epithelial cells. Additional studies also showed EGCG has antimicrobial properties at various concentrations. Our results indicate that EGCG can effectively reduce GAS bacteria cellular attachment and induce GAS cell death and can be used effectively as an adjunct to conventional antibiotic treatments.