1995 Volume 45 Issue 2 Pages 184-189
The effect of tea catechins, which are major components in green tea infusion, on the acid resistance with respect to the dissolution of synthetic hydroxyapatite together with fluoride and Al (III) was investigated. Dissolution rates of hydroxyapatites pretreated with a sodium fluoride (NaF) solution (1.49μmol F/ml), an aluminium nitrate (Al (NO_2)_3) solution (1.85μmol Al/ml), or a mixture of NaF and Al (NO_3)_3 in water (pH 5.6) were 39.2±1.2, 42.5±0.4, and 33.7±0.4 nmol/min, respectively, whereas those with polyphenon-100 (5.0mg/ml, pH 5.6) were 39.8±1.4, 42.8±0.7, and 28.1±0.9 nmol/min, respectively. Only the mixture of catechins-Al (III)-fluoride showed a synergistic effect on the acid resistance, though polyphenon-100 itself did not show any effect at all. The synergism of fluoride, Al (III), and tea catechnis in green tea infusion may be an important factor for the retardation of acid dissolution rate of hydroxyapatite.
