(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate: a novel storage medium for avulsed teeth.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in maintaining the vitality of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells when used as a storage medium for avulsed teeth prior to replantation. Thirty freshly extracted single-rooted human teeth with closed apices were randomly assigned to three experimental groups with 10 samples per group and immersed in one of the storage media: EGCG, Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), or milk for 2 h. The PDL cells were dissociated by an enzyme treatment with collagenase and trypsin. The cells were then labeled with 0.4% Trypan blue for the determination of viability. The result showed that EGCG group had the highest percentage of cell viability, followed by HBSS and milk group, in descending order.