TITLE:
Green Tea Catechins in Periodontal Therapy: A Literature Review of Efficacy as an Adjunct to Initial Periodontal Treatment
AUTHORS:
Imane Sabili, Nadia Ausalah Taoufik, Ihsane Benyahya
KEYWORDS:
Green Tea, Catechins, EGCG, Periodontitis, Scaling and Root Planing, Adjunctive Therapy
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.4,
April
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease initiated by pathogenic biofilms, leading to the progressive destruction of periodontal supporting tissues. Green tea catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have emerged as promising therapeutic agents due to their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Objective: This review aims to evaluate the clinical and biological efficacy of green tea catechins as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the management of chronic periodontitis. Methods: A narrative synthesis was conducted focusing on 7 pivotal articles that detail various local delivery systems, including chips, gels, strips, and dentifrices. These core studies provide the evidence base for assessing changes in Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), and subgingival microbial flora. Results: The adjunctive use of green tea catechins significantly improved clinical parameters compared to SRP alone. Quantitative evidence showed a substantial reduction in PPD with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 1.02 and a significant gain in CAL with an SMD of 0.58. Biologically, EGCG exerted strong bactericidal effects against Porphyromonas gingivalis at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL and effectively modulated the host response by inhibiting collagenase activity and suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion: Green tea catechins represent an effective, biocompatible, and safe adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy. Their dual ability to target bacterial pathogens while simultaneously modulating host inflammatory pathways offers a significant clinical advantage over mechanical therapy alone.