1. (−)Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits gelatinase activity of some bacterial isolates from ocular infection, and limits their invasion through gelatine
- Author
-
Vincenzo Enea, Dario Rusciano, Simona La Terra Mulè, Anna Rita Blanco, Spiridione Garbisa, and Gioia Babini
- Subjects
Gelatinases ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Biophysics ,Microbial Sensitivity Tests ,complex mixtures ,Biochemistry ,Catechin ,Eye Infections, Bacterial ,Microbiology ,medicine ,Humans ,Gelatinase ,heterocyclic compounds ,Zymography ,Molecular Biology ,Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ,Bacteria ,Tea ,biology ,food and beverages ,Eye infection ,biology.organism_classification ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Culture Media ,Gelatin ,Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ,sense organs ,Antibacterial activity ,Adjuvant - Abstract
The objective of this paper is to assess the gelatinase production by some ocular pathogenic bacterial strains, and evaluate the ability of (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) to inhibit this gelatinase activity and thus limit bacterial invasion. The effect of EGCg on bacterial gelatinase activity was tested by classic zymography methods, while its effect on bacterial invasion was evaluated through the ability of growing bacteria to liquefy and thus penetrate a semisolid gelatine substrate. It was found that EGCg inhibits bacterial gelatinases with an IC(50) of about 0.2 mM, and limits invasion of gelatinase-positive bacteria at concentrations above 2 mM. These results show for the first time that EGCg, as well as having direct antibacterial activity, can also inhibit bacterial gelatinases, thus limiting their invasion on gelatine. Possible use of EGCg is thus suggested as an adjuvant in antibacterial chemotherapy.
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF