Antimicrobial, synergistic and antioxidant activities of tea polyphenols

Abstract

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites produced by tea plant, wh ich play multiple essential roles in plant physiology and have potential health proper ties on human health, mainly as antioxidants, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihypertensive and antimicrobial agents. Microbial resistance has become an increasing global problem; there is a need to find out novel potent antimicrobial agents with alternativ e modes of action as accessories to antibiotic therapy. This study investigated the antimicrobial, synergistic and antioxidant properties of tea polyphenols. The synergistic effect of tea polyphenols in combination with conventional antimicrobial agents against clinical multidrug-resistant microorganisms has been investigated and valuable data generated on the potential synergistic pr operties of tea polyphenols.