Biosynthesized Tea Polyphenols Inactivate Chlamydia trachomatis In Vitro

Biosynthesized tea polyphenols showed antichlamydial activity against Chlamydia trachomatis D/UW-3/Cx and L2/434/Bu using cell culture. The most active compounds were (−)-epigallocatechin gallate and (−)-epicatechin gallate, followed by (−)-epicatechin (EC). (+)-Epicatechin and (−)-epigallocatechin were intermediate. EC was the least toxic. These results warrant evaluation of tea polyphenols as topical antichlamydial agents.