Green tea: A review on its natural anti-oxidant therapy and cariostatic benefits

Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] Tel.: +918899746798 Green tea is a leading beverage in the Far East for thousands of years; it is regarded for a long time as a health product. Green tea has been consumed mainly in India, China, Japan, and Thailand. Studies are now suggesting that green tea (Camellia sinensis) in particular has many health benefits. Many biological effects of green tea and its constituents have been reported. In present years, tea has attracted focus for its potential for preventing cancer since it contains pytochemicals like polyphenols that act as antioxidants. Polyphenols including epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG) constitute the most interesting components in green tea leaves. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticollagenase, antimutagenic and chemopreventive properties of these catechins proved to be helpful in the treatment of chronic diseases like periodontal disease. There is a direct bactericidal effect of Green Tea on Streptococcus mutans. Some catechins present in green tea interact with bacteria present on tooth surface by binding to its bacterial cellular proteins and decreasing its hydrophobicity and thus inhibits its adherence. The enzymatic activity of glucosyl transferase from Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus is inhibited by tea catechins and thus play cariostatic role.