Effects of the green tea catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate on S<i>treptococcus mutans</i> planktonic cultures and biofilms: systematic literature review of <i>in vitro</i> studies.

This study aimed at performing a systematic review of the literature on the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> planktonic cultures and biofilms. The selected references demonstrated that EGCG suppresses <i>S. mutans</i> acid production by inhibiting the activity of enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and FIF0-ATPase. Regarding virulence factors, one study reported a reduction in soluble and insoluble polysaccharide synthesis, another demonstrated that EGCG inhibited GTase activity, and another showed effects of EGCG on the expression of <i>gtf</i> B, C, and D. The effects of EGCG on <i>S. mutans</i> biofilms were reported only by 2 of the selected studies. Moreover, high variability in effective concentrations and microbial assessment methods were observed. The literature suggests that EGCG has effects against <i>S. mutans</i> planktonic cells viability and virulence factors. However, the literature lacks studies with appropriate biofilm models to evaluate the precise effectiveness of EGCG against <i>S. mutans</i> biofilms.