The inhibitory action of tea polyphenols towards the development and growth
of bacterial spores was examined. Among the tested Bacillus bacteria, tea
polyphenols showed antibacterial effects towards Bacillus stearothemophilus
, which is a thermophilic spore-forming bacterium. The heat resistance of B
. stearothermophilus spores was reduced by the addition of tea polyphenols.
Clostridium thermoaceticum, an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium, also exh
ibited reduced heat resistance of its spores in the presence of tea polyphe
nols. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, which is the main component of tea poly
phenols, showed strong activity against both B. stearothermophilus and C. t
hermoaceticum. The heat resistance of these bacterial spores was more rapid
ly decreased by the addition of tea polyphenols at high temperatures.