Modified green tea polyphenol formulations

Abstract

Modified green tea polyphenols and methods of their use are provided. One aspect provides compounds and compositions containing green tea polyphenols with one on more ester-linked fatty acids.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising
 a green tea polyphenol esterified with one or more C1-C30 hydrocarbon chains, wherein the modified green tea polyphenol is selected from the group consisting of (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epigallocatechin, (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate, and (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate; and   an antibacterial agent in an amount effective to kill bacteria.   
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more C1-C30 hydrocarbon chains is octadecanoic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antibacterial agent is selected from the group consisting of ampicillin, bacitracin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, penicillin, polymyxin, rifampin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the green tea polyphenol is (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate esterified at the 4′ position. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1  to reduce or inhibit the bacterial infection in the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human.