The protein IB5 has been purified from human parotid saliva. This protein contains several repeats of a short proline-rich sequence. Dissociation constants have been measured at several discrete binding sites using 1H-NMR for the hydrolysable tannins (polyphenols) beta-1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose, beta-1,2,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose and beta-1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose and the condensed proanthocyanidin (--)-epicatechin. The dissociation constants for trigalloyl glucose and pentagalloyl glucose were 15 X 10(-5) and 1.7 X 10(-5) M, respectively, which are 115 and 1660 times stronger than those previously measured under the same conditions for a single repeat of a mouse salivary proline-rich protein. The increase in affinity is ascribed to intramolecular secondary interactions, which are strengthened by the rigidity of the interacting molecules.