Antimicrobial potential of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): A green tea polyphenol

Abstract

The compounding problem of microbial resistance has become a global threat nowadays and demands urgent attention. Given the limited number of clinically proven drugs available, reversion towards compounds from natural resources have become renewed source of interest. Utilization of novel and potent antimicrobial agents with different targets can act as accessories to antibiotic therapy. Considerable amount of research has been conducted on the various advantages of secondary metabolites produced by different plants. Among these, polyphenols have come into sight over the past few decades as a potential source to promote human health. This article summarizes the various health benefits of EGCG, the major component of green tea polyphenols with more emphasis on the anti-microbial properties of EGCG.

Full text

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Review
Antimicrobial potential of epigallocatechin-3-
gallate (EGCG): a green tea polyphenol
Shrayanee Das1, Jyoti Tanwar1, Saif Hameed*, Zeeshan Fatima*
Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon (Manesar)-122413, India
1Equal contribution
*To whom correspondence should be addressed: Dr. Zeeshan Fatima and Dr. Saif Hameed, Amity Institute of Biotechnology,
Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon (Manesar)-122413, India. Phone: +91-124-2337015, Ext: 1205.
Email: drzeeshanfatima@gmail.com, saifhameed@yahoo.co.in
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(Received June 6, 2014; Revised June 25, 2014; Accepted June 27, 2014; Published online: July 5, 2014)
Abstract: The compounding problem of microbial resistance has become a global threat nowadays and
demands urgent attention. Given the limited number of clinically proven drugs available, reversion towards
compounds from natural resources have become renewed source of interest. Utilization of novel and potent
antimicrobial agents with different targets can act as accessories to antibiotic therapy. Considerable amount of
research has been conducted on the various advantages of secondary metabolites produced by different plants.
Among these, polyphenols have come into sight over the past few decades as a potential source to promote
human health. This article summarizes the various health benefits of EGCG, the major component of green tea
polyphenols with more emphasis on the anti-microbial properties of EGCG.
Keywords: EGCG, green tea, polyphenols, catechins
Introduction
A huge amount of research has been conducted on the
various advantages of secondary metabolites produced by
different plants. Among these, polyphenols have come into
sight over the past few decades as a potential source to
promote human health. A number of clinical trials have
shown wide range of biological and pharmacological
properties of polyphenolic compounds such as anti-
microbial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidative, anti-allergic,
anti-cardiovascular [1], anti-diabetic [2], anti-inflammatory
[3], anti-hypercholesterolemic (lipid clearance) [4], anti-
atherosclerosis, anti-hypertensive [1], anti-mutagenic [5],
anti-aging [6], decreased risk of osteoporotic fractures [7],
neuroprotective [8] and immunomodulatory effects [3].
Being an incredible source they are considered safer and
metabolize better than conventional pharmaceutical drugs
since these compounds are derived from natural food
products [9]. The development of resistance to various
commercial anti-microbial drugs drives the increased use of
these natural polyphenols in recent years. Polyphenols are
major dietary constituents of many food items and
beverages. Tea (Camellia sinensis, family Theaceae) is the
second most consumed plant-based (Table 1) beverage in the
world preceded by water and is cultivated in about 30
countries in the world [1, 5, 10]. On the basis of method of
post-harvest processing, tea can be divided into four
categories namely black tea (aerated or oxidized), green tea
(non-aerated), white tea and oolong tea (semi-aerated or
partially oxidized) [10]. The antimicrobial potential of
EGCG, the major component of green tea polyphenols, is the
focus of this article.
Chemical composition of green tea
Green tea in general refers to the product which is
derived from fresh tea leaves after some modifications like
steaming or drying at elevated temperature. The main
component of polyphenols is catechins and its oxidation is
avoided in the above processing [3]. The amount of
catechins is higher in green tea (Fig 1) in comparison to the
other varieties. Common green tea is rich source of dietary
flavonoids which are classified as catechins (C), (-)-
epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin
(EGC), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) and (-)-epicatechin
(EC) [1] (Table 2). EGCG has been declared as safe

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Table 2. Chemical structures of different catechins in green tea.
Catechins in Green Tea Chemical Structure
Epigallocatechin -3-gallat e(EGCG)
Epigallocatechin (EGC)
Epicatech in-3-gal late (ECG)
Epicatech in (EC)
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compound by the US Food and Drug Administration [12]
and it is the most active and characteristic component found
only in green tea. The natural product EGCG forms 50-80%
of catechins in green tea, representing 200–300 mg in a
brewed cup of green tea while other catechins are found in
lower abundance in green tea which includes catechin
gallate, gallocatechin, gallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin
digallate, methylepicatechin and methyl EGC [3]. Some
flavanols such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and their
glycosides are also present in tea. Other component like
threonine which is responsible for the characteristic flavor, is
present 4-6% weight of dried tea [13].
Table 1. Phylogenetic classification of green tea
Kingdom Plantae
Order Ericales
Family Theaceae
Genus Camellia
Species C. sinensis [8]
Health promoting activities of EGCG
EGCG is the most abundant, potent polyphenol and
is responsible for most of therapeutic benefits (either
clinical, animal or cell culture studies) of green tea (Fig 2). It
has various medicinal potentialities which include anti-
microbial properties against resistant microorganisms on
which it acts by either disrupting the cell membrane,
inhibiting the biosynthesis of the cell constituents, cell
signaling or DNA damage (described in following sections).
The most important antioxidant property is very crucial in
treating chronic diseases which are related to oxidative
stress, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases and
cancer. Research on this property revealed information about
its anti-cardiovascular and anti-hypertensive activity which
enables EGCG to prevent platelet aggregation, lower
cholesterol level and inhibit lipid peroxidation [14]. In vitro
studies of mouse model, it induces lowered risk of cancer
development by binding to various key proteins, thus
affecting the signaling pathways followed by growth
inhibition due to apoptosis or suppression of angiogenesis
and metastasis [1, 15]. EGCG is also beneficial for
preventing aging of brain and other neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as
depicted from mouse model studies [8, 14]. It also shows
anti-hypercholesterolemic (anti-obesity) activity and
promotes weight loss through fat oxidation [16]. Animal
studies have demonstrated that EGCG is an efficient agent in
preventing the development of diabetes, type 1 or type 2 [2].
EGCG increases lysosomal acidification, regulates
autophagy and lipid clearance in liver due to its anti-steatotic
property [4]. EGCG, in dose dependent manner can reduce
the release of cytokines/chemokines responsible for
inflammation showing anti-inflammatory property [3, 17].
Its anti-allergic property strongly inhibits activation of mast
cells and expression of high-affinity IgE receptor, which
produces an allergic reaction on exposure to certain foreign
antigens [18].

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Fig. 1. Percentage of different components of green tea [11].
Antimicrobial potent of EGCG
Natural products have emerged as rich sources of
antimicrobial agents efficient against a wide variety of
microorganisms. Tea polyphenol EGCG have broad
antimicrobial spectrum such as antifungal [Candida spp.(C.
albicans, C. glabrata), dermatophytes (Trichophyton
mentagrophytes, T. rubrum)], antibacterial (methicilllin
resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas
maltophilia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter
pylori, Streptococci spp., Clostridium spp., Bacillus cereus,
Salmonella spp., Mycoplasma pneumonia) and antiviral
[Orthomyxoviridae (Influenza virus) and Flaviviridae
(hepatitis C), hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, Human
Immunodeficiency Virus and adenovirus] effects. The
following section will review the various antimicrobial
potential of EGCG (Fig. 3).
Antifungal activity of EGCG
More than 600 different fungi are reported to cause
common to fatal infections in human. The increasing number
of immunosuppressed patients and advancements in the
medicinal fields contributes to the incidence of invasive
fungal infections. The effects of EGCG are generally studied
against yeast strains such as Candida spp. (C. albicans, C.
glabrata) and dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes,
T. rubrum).
C. albicans is a polymorphic and commensal
organism found to be a member of human’s normal
microbial flora. Nosocomial infections or hospital acquired
infections (HAI) are the fourth most leading cause of
diseases and C. albicans is known to cause approximately
80% of fungal HAI which are major cause of morbidity and
mortality. About 90-100% of mucosal infections and 50-
70% of Blood Stream Infections (BSI) are generally caused
by C. albicans [19]. These fungal infections are generally
treated by antifungal mainly azoles such as fluconazole and
itraconazole which inhibits sterol biosynthetic pathway. In
antifungal therapy, these azoles have less toxicity against the
fungal strains, hence providing poor fungicidal activity with
increased side effects. Due to enhanced antimicrobial
resistance there is a need of developing effective natural
antifungal agents which are less toxic and safer [21].
Various in vitro studies using clinical isolates of C. albicans,
C. tropicalis, etc., indicated that EGCG shows antifungal
effects against resistant Candida species and might be an
alternative agent for treating candidal infections. The ability
of C. albicans to adhere to other cells, various hosts, medical
and surgical devices contributes to its colonization and
pathogenicity by biofilm formation which is highly resistant
to several antifungal agents. In an in vitro study, Evensen
and Braun [22] showed that at physiological concentration
(1 µmol/ml), green tea polyphenols cause metabolic
instability with EGCG being most potent among them.
Biofilm formation of C. albicans was impaired by EGCG
which contributed to both structural and metabolic
disruption [23]. Another common mechanism of action of
antifungal agents is that they physically bind to ergosterol,
disturbing the osmotic integrity and hence create pores. This
causes intracellular ions (potassium and magnesium) to leak
out, therefore killing the cell and EGCG is known to
enhance this activity due to its synergistic effect [24]. Some
research groups have shown even antifolic activity of EGCG
against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) by inhibition of this
crucial enzyme for the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines
and various amino acids resulting in disturbing the growth of
fungal cells [25]. In vitro study by Hirasawa & Takada [20]
showed the antifungal effects of EGCG both individually
and in combination with antimycotic drugs against C.
albicans. They found that EGCG has a pH dependent effect
shows more strong action at basic pH such that the microbial
inhibitory concentration was decreased by 10 times at higher
(~2.0 mg/L at 8.0 pH) than at lower (~1024 mg/L at 6.0 pH)
pH. The pH dependent effect holds true when it was used in
association with commercial antifungal drugs where it
enhanced their activity with lesser dose.
Dermatophytosis is another most common and
widespread infectious diseases that is yet to be solved. It is
caused by dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton
mentagrophytes, T. rubrum which were shown to have
sensitivity to EGCG (MIC50, 2-4 µg/ml, MIC90, 4-8 µg/ml)
[26]. In vitro study by Toyoshima [27] showed antifungal
effects of EGCG against clinical isolates of T.
mentagrophytes. They reported that inhibition of
germination of conidia was followed by some morphological
changes like deformation, swelling, granular accumulation
and inhibited hyphal growth.

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EGCG
Anti-
microbial
Anti-
oxidant
Anti-
allerg ic
Anti-
cardiovascular
Anti-
inf lammato ry
Neuro
protectiv e
Anti-
carcinogen ic
Anti-
diabetic
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Fig. 2. Health benefits of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
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Antibacterial activity of EGCG
Bacterial infections are offering extensive challenge
to health care and a major cause of morbidity and mortality.
Due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics over the past
decade, treatment of these infections has become even more
challenging. The effects of EGCG are generally studied
against bacterial strains such as (methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori,
Streptococci spp.).
Staphylococci species (methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus) is major cause of severe, acute and
chronic HAI. The activity of β-lactams (antibiotics such as
methicillin) was found to be enhanced by EGCG. The
biological activity of EGCG was investigated against clinical
isolates of S. aureus and the in vitro study suggested that
binding of negatively charged EGCG to positively charged
lipids of the cell membrane, damages the membrane
structure or fragments the lipid bilayer causing
intramembranous leakage [28]. It has also been reported that
EGCG inhibited (MIC50, 10 µg/ml) the penicillinase activity
of peptidoglycan of bacterial cell membrane by binding to it
either directly or indirectly, hence keeping the penicillin
away from inactivation [29]. EGCG was also found to
decrease or inhibit biofilm production by S. aureus [30].
EGCG have been reported to inhibit the growth of Gram-
positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Stenotrophomonas
maltophilia is an environmental Gram-negative (multiple
drug resistant) organism which is commonly associated with
respiratory infections in humans. EGCG can lead to bacterial
cell death by inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase, thus
preventing DNA supercoiling [31]. DHFR is a key enzyme
that reduces 7, 8-dihydrofolate (DHF) to 5, 6, 7, 8-
tetrahydrofolate (THF). This NADPH- dependent reduction
reaction is involved in nucleotide biosynthesis. EGCG
shows antifolate activity against DHFR and hence leads to
the disruption of DNA synthesis. An in vitro study on
mechanism of action of the EGCG against clinical isolates of
S. maltophilia (MIC range, 4 to 256 µg/ml) revealed that the
primary target of their anti-bacterial activity is phospholipids
of the bacterial membrane, hence kills the cell by membrane
disruption [32, 33].

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Fig. 3. Antimicrobial actions of EGCG.
Helicobacter pylori is known to be a major causative
agent of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and can also lead to
the development of gastric cancer. From in vitro studies, it
had been proved that EGCG is natural and safe having
physiochemical stability in stomach acid, which makes it an
effective alternative therapeutic agent for treatment of the
above mentioned gastric diseases at an inhibitory
concentration of 100 µg/ml against clinical isolates of H.
pylori [34]. EGCG blocks TLR-4 (toll like receptor)
glycosylation, stimulated by H. pylori infection, which
disturbs H. pylori- induced host cell signaling and protects
from gastric cytotoxicity [35]. Studies indicated that EGCG
is responsible for the inhibition of bacterial adhesion to
human cells by Streptococci species (S. mutans, S. pyogenes)
and induces cell death [36].
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MTB) which is seventh leading cause of death
worldwide and is estimated to kill more than 2 million
people every year. Induction and activation of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-
α (tumor necrosis factor) respectively is significant for
proliferation of MTB in host cells Peripheral Blood
Mononuclear cells (human monocytes). Fatima et al. [37,
38] in an in vitro study, revealed that due to its antioxidant
property, EGCG is an inhibitor of ROS and reactive nitrogen
intermediates (RNI) pathways. It also shows better
inhibition of TNF-α and MTB 85B gene expression (MIC, 5
µg/ml) than other first line antibiotics, thus proving EGCG
to be safe, economic and natural therapeutic agent for
treatment of TB.
Antiviral activity of EGCG
The effects of EGCG are generally studied against
bacterial strains such as (Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immuno
deficiency Virus, Influenza viruses, Hepatitis B virus,

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Enterovirus,Adenovirus, Epstein–Barr virus,Herpes
Simplex Virus). Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an RNA virus
which chronically infects about 160 million individuals. It is
a member of Flaviviridae family and is associated with life-
threatening diseases like cirrhosis, liver failure and
hepatocellular carcinoma [39]. HCV infection can be spread
via cell to cell transmission. Entry of virus is a multistep
process which involves endocytosis and fusion of the viral
membrane with the host membrane. EGCG can prevent this
cell-cell transmission due to a unique potential of inhibiting
the attachment of HCV and its entry into the host cell by
impairment of virus binding to the cell, thereby preventing
its RNA replication. Moreover, single dose concentration of
EGCG ranging from 50-1600 mg is sufficient to inhibit the
HCV and safe for human volunteers as reviewed by
Steinmann [23, 40, 41]. It is responsible of increasing the
lipid droplet formation and impairment of lipoprotein
secretion in hepatocytes, both of which are crucial for the
life cycle of HCV [42].
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1(HIV-1) is a
lentivirus which is estimated to infect about 33 million
people worldwide. It is the major causative agent of AIDS
and belongs to the Retroviridae family. It is a major cause of
morbidity and in the absence of effective vaccine or cure,
antiretroviral treatment is the best option [43]. EGCG affects
each step of the HIV life cycle, from cell attachment, entry
of virus, replication cycle to the expression of mRNA. It also
interferes with the infectivity of the virus by binding to the
surface of viral envelope and deforming the phospholipids
followed by lysis of the virus particle [44, 45]. The
attachment of the gp120 envelope protein to the CD4
receptor on T-helper cells initiates the entry of HIV-1 into
the host. EGCG blocks the interaction of gp120 and CD4
and prevents the attachment of HIV-1 virions [46]. This tea
catechin inhibits reverse transcriptase (RT) which catalyses
the conversion of RNA into DNA and integrase enzyme
which splice synthesized DNA into host cell genome [11,
45]. EGCG also inhibits the viral production from infected
cells and the level of expression of viral mRNA.
Influenza viruses (Influenza virus A and B) are
members of Orthomyxoviridae family and are a major cause
of respiratory diseases in human. Influenza A viruses are
single stranded, segmented RNA viruses with envelope. The
various antiviral drugs used to treat diseases caused by this
organism are amantadine and rimantadine etc. However,
many viral strains have developed resistance to these drugs
and therefore, EGCG has emerged as a potent source of
antiviral agent. It was reported for the first time in 1993 that
EGCG was able to alter the physical integrity and
agglutinate the virus preventing them from adsorbing on
MDCK cells (Madin-Dardy Canine Kidney) [47]. It also
ceased the growth of influenza virus by inhibiting the
acidification of intracellular compartments like endosomes,
lysosomes etc. [48] and inhibited the entry by binding to
haemagglutinin [49]. Another virus against which EGCG
exerts its antiviral activity is Adenovirus of Adenoviridae
family, a non-enveloped virus composed of a nucleocapsid
and a double-stranded linear DNA genome. Approximately
5–10% of upper respiratory infections in children are caused
by this organism. Weber and co-workers [50] concluded that
EGCG inactivated adenoviruses and inhibited the viral
protease activity. It was found to be most effective during
the transition from early to late phase of the infection and
also inhibited the late stages of viral infection followed by
its intracellular growth. Enterovirus 71 is a single stranded
RNA virus belonging to Picornaviridae family and causes
life threatening hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD),
cutaneous and neurological diseases. EGCG exerts its
antiviral activity by inhibiting the viral replication and
subsequent formation of progeny virus [51].
Hepatitis B, which affects over 300 million people all
over the world, is caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) which
is a small enveloped virus from the Hepadnaviridae family.
It can be transmitted parentally, sexually and perinatally
[52]. In a dose dependent manner, EGCG was capable of
reducing the expression of HBV specific antigens, the levels
of extracellular HBV DNA and inhibit the replication of
intracellular replicative intermediates resulting in a reduction
in cccDNA production (covalently closed circular DNA)
[53].
Analysis of antiviral effect of EGCG on Epstein–Barr
virus (EBV), a herpes virus of Herpesviridae family,
demonstrated that it inhibited the transcription of immediate-
early genes and expression of the lytic proteins, thus
blocking the EBV lytic cycle [54]. It is associated with
Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, T-cell
lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease [55]. Another virus from
the Herpesviridae family, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
causes a sexually transmitted Herpes simplex disease at 65-
90% rates all over the world [23]. As no vaccine is currently
available for treatment, EGCG was characterized against
HSV to study its antiviral effects in Vero cell lines and was
found to affect prior to infection, having no effect on the
viral production [12].
Conclusion
The recent research have reveal that green tea has
proved its potentials ranging right from antimicrobial to
antioxidant, neuroprotective to skin and hair care, and many
more, posing as a “natural boon to human being”. Despite
EGCG being safe in nature, it suffers with few limitations
viz. low absorption, poor membrane permeability, metabolic
transformations and unstability [56]. Moreover, even
antagonistic action of EGCG has been reported with
anticancer drugs [57]. However, with their unique
biochemical profiles, they have even managed to contribute
to the enhancement of the activity of different standard
drugs. This has not only grabbed the attention of common
people but also nailed its position as an alternative remedy
for different chronic life-threatening infections.

S. Das et al. / Journal of Biochemical and Pharmacological Research, Vol. 2 (3): 167-174, September 2014 
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ISSN2168‐8761print/ISSN2168‐877Xonline173http://www.researchpub.org/journal/jbpr/jbpr.html

Acknowledgement
S.H. thanks Science and Engineering Research Board
(SERB), New Delhi for the financial assistance in the form
of Young Scientist award (SR/FT/LS-12/2012). We thank
Prof. S.M. Paul Khurana, Dean, Faculty of Science,
Engineering & Technology for encouragement.
Conflict of interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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