Document Detail


Tea catechins as a potential alternative anti-infectious agent.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17547513     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Besides well-known health benefits, green tea catechins exert antimicrobial and antiviral activities against a variety of infectious agents. Although the detailed mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of tea catechins remains to be explored, the broad-spectrum activity of catechins may involve common target(s), such as the cell membrane, in addition to specific targets for each pathogen. This extends to antiviral activities, where many pronounced activities were reported for enveloped viruses. Yet, the effectiveness of tea catechins as antimicrobials is compromised by relative chemical instability and poor bioavailability. Whether tea catechins will emerge as a viable option as alternative medicine or as a synergistic combination therapy with pre-existing antivirals or antibiotics must therefore depend on a method of delivery that ensures its stability and bioavailability. However, green tea may provide an option for mitigating the health and economic burdens associated with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially considering the paucity of effective control measures. Considering the zoonotic nature of newly arising infectious diseases, the dual use of green tea components in both humans and livestock may reduce animal-human transmission, which would complement the current management of infectious diseases.
Authors:
Jae Min Song; Baik Lin Seong
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Expert review of anti-infective therapy     Volume:  5     ISSN:  1744-8336     ISO Abbreviation:  Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther     Publication Date:  2007 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-06-05     Completed Date:  2007-07-12     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101181284     Medline TA:  Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  497-506     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Yonsei University, Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea. jaemin@yonsei.ac.kr
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry,  pharmacology,  therapeutic use*
Catechin / chemistry,  pharmacology,  therapeutic use*
Communicable Disease Control / methods
HIV / drug effects
Helicobacter pylori / drug effects
Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects
Humans
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Orthomyxoviridae / drug effects
Phytotherapy*
Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
Streptococcus mutans / drug effects
Tea / chemistry*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Infective Agents; 0/Tea; 154-23-4/Catechin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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