In-vitro 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.

Intestine‐on‐chip device increases ECM remodeling inducing faster epithelial cell differentiation

“…In addition, compared with the full‐differentiated epithelium obtained in 21 days of static culture, In‐OC presents a more pronounced and well‐established crypts‐villus axis, more abundant mucus secretion and a lower TEER value closer to native human intestine. 3D‐HIE obtained in In‐OC was, then, used to perform a biological assay for testing a functional food Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), an extract of green tea that has been proved to have multiple effects on human pathophysiological processes (Guida et al, ), including anticancer, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐collagenase, and anti‐fibrosis effects (Hsu & Liou, ; Ohishi, Goto, Monira, Isemura, & Nakamura, ; Park et al, ). On this device, we simulated the oral ingestion of a functional food EGCG by loading a epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC) suspension on the apical sealed side.…”