Marked reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of beta-lactams in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus produced by epicatechin gallate, an ingredient of green tea (Camellia sinensis).
We found that epicatechin gallate, a constituent of an extract of tea leaves (green tea) markedly lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin and other beta-lactams, but not of other antibacterial agents tested, in strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial action of epicatechin gallate plus oxacillin was a bactericidal one.
Shiota
S
S
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
Shimizu
M
M
Mizushima
T
T
Ito
H
H
Hatano
T
T
Yoshida
T
T
Tsuchiya
T
T
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D047090:beta-Lactams
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013662:Tea; D047090:beta-Lactams; D002392:Catechin; C062669:epicatechin gallate