title: Tea catechin EGCg suppresses the mgl gene associated with halitosis.
abstract: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), the main antimicrobial tea catechin, has been reported to inhibit growth and virulence factors of oral pathogens in vitro. Although the mechanism is unclear, the potential of EGCg in reducing halitosis caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) has been suggested. This study tested the hypothesis that EGCg reduces VSCs by suppressing mgl, the gene encoding L-methionine-α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane-lyase, responsible for methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH) production by oral anaerobes. In this study, the effect of EGCg on in vitro growth, CH₃SH production, and mgl gene expression in P. gingivalis W83 was investigated. EGCg inhibited growth of P. gingivalis W83 (MIC = 97.5 µg/mL) and was bactericidal (MBC = 187.5 µg/mL). At sub-MIC levels, EGCg inhibited CH₃SH production, and mgl mRNA and protein expression (p < 0.05). We conclude that EGCg may represent a natural and alternative agent to the antimicrobial chemicals currently available for halitosis control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, MC850, 801 S. Paulina Street, Room 469J, Chicago, IL 60612-7212, USA.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006209:Halitosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C005231:methylmercaptan; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; C021558:L-methionine gamma-lyase