TOKYO, Japan: Extensive research shows that Porphyromonas gingivalis is linked with the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. The antimicrobial activity of the tea plant Camellia sinensis against a wide range of pathogens has been studied; however, there is little information on its effect on P. gingivalis. Owing to the scarcity of data, researchers from Japan have explored the clinical effects of matcha—made from the raw leaves of C. sinensis—on periodontal disease and found that it inhibited the attachment and survival of P. gingivalis, suggesting its effectiveness for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.