In Vitro Study on Calcium Phosphate Precipitation

―Possible Effect of Anti-Calculus Formation with a Green Tea Catechin-Gelatin Mixture―

Abstract

The Possible use of green tea catechin-gelatin mixture as a naturally-derived anti-calculus agent was studied using a pH drop method to measure the in vitro formation of calcium phosphate precipitates. A green tea catechin-gelatin mixture with a weight ratio of 1：1 largely inhibited the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates. Addition of a thickener, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in a 6：1 ratio inhibited more. From these result, it was suggested that the mixture of green tea catechin：gelatin：CMC＝1：1：6 could be a good naturally-derived anti-calculus agent.