Efficacy Testing on Experimental Formulas and its Importance in Public Health

The unicellular fungus, Candida albicans, is known for being the most prevalent fungal infection in humans. These infections can range from urinary tract infections (UTIs), Genital infections, Oral thrushes, and Mucocutaneous candidiasis. Another microbe that can be detrimental to human health is the gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria, Bacillus cereus. Bacillus cereus causes food poisoning by producing toxins. The toxins can be found in a wide variety of foods such as meat, dairy, pasta, and vegetables. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping are among the symptoms of Bacillus cereus food intoxication. In some cases, the illness can cause kidney failure, liver damage, and possibly death. Many reports have highlighted that EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), and modified P-EGCG (palmitoyl-epigallocatechin-3-gallate), found in green tea leaves of Camellia Sinensis have antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and now sporicidal properties. EGCG is reported to inhibit the germination of spores from vegetative cells and is believed to be synergistic with antibiotics against bacterial growth, increasing susceptibility. In this study, P-EGCG-containing formulations EC16 and CF2 were used to evaluate their inhibitory effects on Fungi, Candida albicans, and Endospore-forming Bacillus cereus. The effectiveness of the formulations was determined by using the suspension test and time course study. Colony forming unit (CFU) was counted and the percentage of inhibition was calculated. The results indicated that both EC16 and CF2 can efficiently inhibit the growth of Candida albicans and Bacillus cereus.