Green tea in the fight against bacteria
Scientists from the UK and Germany have discovered that a natural antioxidant found in green tea, which is very popular in Turkmenistan, can restore the activity of antibiotic commonly used to treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
It is Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant that belongs to the family of polyphenols. These substances are commonly found in fruits and berries. EGCG is probably best known for its role as the major active compound in green tea.
Scientists have found that if antioxidant is added to a combination of antibiotics, which is usually used in the fight against resistant bacteria, the effectiveness of treatment can be significantly increased. Resistant bacteria is a serious threat to global public health, so the survey results are of significant value for medicine.
Tests on microorganisms have shown that the combination of antibiotics and epigallocatechin gallate was significantly more effective at treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria than either agent alone. The authors of survey note that more tests are required, while the potential of EGCG is already visible.
