Analysis of Antifungal Activity of Epigallocatechin-Gallate: Preliminary Study

Abstract

Oral candisosis is an heterogeneous group of diseases, caused by different species of Candida fungus. The incidence of drug-resistant species is increasing dramatically; furthermore, in recent years higher incidences of non-albicans and antimycotic-resistant species of Candida have been reported, thus increasing necessity of a non-antibiotic agent, which should be both highly effective and safe. It has been showed that the main polyphenols component of green tea, epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG), has antibacterial activity; recently, it has been reported its antifungal activity too. We tested the effectiveness of a 0.20% EGCG (TEAVIGO®) gel, a non-pharmaceutical product suitable for oral in vivo use, on four species of Candida yeast (C.albicans, Cparapsilosis, C.tropicalis, C.glabrata) , evaluating its antifungal activity and its capacity to inhibit biofilm formation. The EGCG gel showed a remarkable activity against C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. This preliminary study confirms EGCG effectiveness on fungi; for this reason, a product with such a low concentration of EGCG could be used with no side-effect for every-day oral hygiene. Anyway, mechanisms of antifungal activity of EGCG are not comprehended and need further studies to better understand the reasons of some Candida species' resistance.