Natural maple polyphenol found to inhibit tooth decay bacteria in new study (Also in green tea)

Medical Xpress / American Society for Microbiology / Microbiology Spectrum ^ | Aug. 7, 2025 | Ahmed Elbakush, Ph.D. et al

[ConservativeMind]

A new study highlights the potential of using a natural compound from maple to combat the bacteria responsible for tooth decay: Streptococcus mutans.

The compound, epicatechin gallate, is a powerful and safe alternative to traditional plaque-fighting agents.

The new study emerged as an offshoot of research into natural compounds that inhibit biofilm formation in Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen.

They isolated polyphenolic compounds from maple that inhibit Listeria attachment and biofilm formation. They also identified their target: sortase A, an enzyme that anchors adhesins to the bacterial cell wall.

When sortase A is inhibited, these adhesins are not anchored in the bacterial cell wall, impairing the ability of Listeria to attach to surfaces and form biofilms. That discovery led the researchers to investigate whether similar mechanisms exist in related bacteria.

Sortase A in Streptococcus species, which is Listeria's cousin, turned out to be quite similar. One species in particular, Streptococcus mutans, stood out because it causes dental caries, commonly known as cavities.

"Since S. mutans initiates cavities by forming biofilms (plaque) on teeth and producing acid that destroys tooth enamel, we asked: could maple polyphenols also inhibit S. mutans biofilms? That question drove this study," said Mark Gomelsky, Ph.D.

Interestingly, the most potent inhibitor was (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), a compound also present in green and black tea, though in much higher amounts in tea than in maple sap. Drinking green tea has long been associated with lower rates of cavities, and its main polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has been used in dental products.

The researchers found that EGCG does inhibit S. mutans biofilms, but it's not nearly as effective as ECG. This raises the intriguing possibility that the moderate effects seen with EGCG-based dental products may be due to using the suboptimal compound, instead of the more potent ECG.

[ckilmer]

I did a research on this a year or two ago. Whole foods has the green tea with the most polyphenols: here’s what the ai says specifically about the green tea in whole foods.

Whole Foods carries several types of green tea, including matcha, bagged, and loose-leaf options. If you’re seeking the green tea with the most EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and other beneficial polyphenols, here’s what current research and product comparisons suggest:

Matcha green tea (especially ceremonial grade) and gunpowder/loose-leaf green teas typically have the highest EGCG content and overall catechin levels among green tea types. Among matcha, “culinary” grade sometimes has higher total polyphenols than “ceremonial” but both are excellent choices. However, studies show that certain gunpowder green teas (like Pure Leaf) also achieve exceptionally high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, sometimes exceeding matcha, particularly when measured per gram.

Bagged green teas—especially mainstream brands like Allegro, Twinings, or Lipton (all of which are sold at Whole Foods)—often have catechin and EGCG levels not far behind matcha or gunpowder types, and sometimes even higher compared to low-quality matcha. They are also more affordable and convenient.

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Green Tea is their house brand option—while specific EGCG numbers for this product are not listed, one recent scientific review included Whole Foods’ bagged tea among products analyzed. It showed moderate EGCG levels compared to matcha and gunpowder types, but still offers a meaningful polyphenol content, especially if prepared properly.

Overall, Pure Leaf gunpowder, culinary-grade matcha, and ceremonial matcha were found to have the highest EGCG levels (50–70 mg/g), while bagged options like Twinings, Allegro, or Lipton measured slightly lower but still significant at 40–46 mg/g.

In summary: If you want the green tea with the absolute highest EGCG and polyphenol content available at Whole Foods, look for:

Pure/certified organic matcha powder (prefer culinary or ceremonial grade)

Gunpowder green teas (sometimes labeled as such in bulk loose-leaf form)

Mainstream bagged organic green tea (like Twinings, Allegro, or 365) for affordability and moderate catechin content

For maximum benefit, use fresh, loose-leaf or high-quality powdered teas, and prepare them following optimal brewing instructions for catechin extraction—typically not too hot, and allowing for a longer steeping time.