Abstract

Water extract of green tea(GTW) and 70% ethanol extract of green tea(GTE) were prepared for the test of antibacterial activity. The sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium to the green tea extracts in various pH of culture broth was tested. Tryptic soy broth(TSB) containing 0∼2%(w/v) of green tea extracts was adjusted to pH 5.0∼7.0 and inoculated with 10$\^$5/∼10$\^$6/ cells/ml of each bacteria. The plate counting method and clear zone test were used to determine inhibitory effect of green tea extracts. Green tea extracts completely inhibited the growth of S. aureus at 0.5% level and bactercidal at 0.5∼1.0% level of GTW and GTE at pH 5.0∼7.0. Green tea extracts were bactercidal to S. typhimurium at 1.5∼2.0% level of GTW and 1.0∼2.0% level of GTE at pH 7.0. Sal. typhimurium was more resistant than S. aureus. in same concentration of green tea extracts at same pH. The resistance of S. aureus and Sal. typhimurium was increased with decreasing pH of culture broth. The morphology of S. aureus cells treated with green tea extracts showed damage of cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. Severely damaged cells of S. aureus lost electron dense material and cytoplasm. Green tea extracts stimulated autolysis and cell death of S. aureus. This result suggests that green tea extracts can be used as an effective natural antibacterial agent in food.

Keywords

• antibacterial activity;
• green tea extracts;
• pathogenic bateria