Described herein are compositions for topical use comprising an antibacterially effective concentration of a gallate or gallamide compound which is a polysubstituted cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl wherein the substituents are selected from hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, fluoro, chloro, amino, nitro, or a moiety of formula -X-(CO)-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl), wherein X is selected from O and NH, provided that the substituents comprise at least two moieties of formula -X-(CO)-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl) attached to adjacent carbons in free or in orally or topically acceptable salt form, as well as methods of making and using the same.本發明係關於用於局部使用之組成物,其包含抗細菌有效濃度之沒食子酸酯或沒食子醯胺化合物,其為多取代之環烷基或雜環烷基,其中該取代基係選自於羥基、羥基甲基、氟、氯、胺基、硝基、或式-X-(CO)-(3,4,5-三羥基苯基)之部分,其中X係選自於O及NH,限制條件為該取代基包含附著於相鄰的碳之至少二個式-X-(CO)-(3,4,5-三羥基苯基)部分,其係呈游離或呈口腔或局部上可接受之鹽形式,以及其製造及使用之方法。