Inhibitory effect of the green tea molecule EGCG against dengue virus infection

Arch Virol. 2018 Jun;163(6):1649-1655. doi: 10.1007/s00705-018-3769-y. Epub 2018 Feb 10.

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide; however, specific antiviral drugs against it are not available. Hence, identifying effective antiviral agents for the prevention of DENV infection is important. In this study, we showed that the reportedly highly biologically active green-tea component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibited dengue virus infection regardless of infecting serotype, but no or minimal inhibition was observed with other flaviviruses, including Japanese encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika virus. EGCG exerted its antiviral effect mainly at the early stage of infection, probably by interacting directly with virions to prevent virus infection. Our results suggest that EGCG specifically targets DENV and might be used as a lead structure to develop an antiviral drug for use against the virus.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / isolation & purification
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Dengue Virus / drug effects*
  • Dengue Virus / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / drug effects
  • Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Tea / chemistry*
  • Virion / drug effects*
  • Virion / physiology
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects
  • Yellow fever virus / drug effects
  • Yellow fever virus / physiology
  • Zika Virus / drug effects
  • Zika Virus / physiology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Tea
  • Catechin
  • epigallocatechin gallate