The green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection. (8th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henss, Lisa; Auste, Arne; Schürmann, Christoph; Schmidt, Christin; von Rhein, Christine; Mühlebach, Michael D.; Schnierle, Barbara S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of general virology. Volume 102:Number 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-08
• Subjects: Green tea -- EGCG -- SARS-CoV-2 -- pseudotype -- MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV; Virology -- Periodicals; Viruses; Microbiology; Virology; Virologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Virology; Virologie; Virologie; Electronic journals; Periodical; Periodicals; 579.2
• DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1317

Abstract

Abstract : The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has caused a pandemic with tens of millions of cases and more than a million deaths. The infection causes COVID-19, a disease of the respiratory system of divergent severity. No treatment exists. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major component of green tea, has several beneficial properties, including antiviral activities. Therefore, we examined whether EGCG has antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. EGCG blocked not only the entry of SARS-CoV-2, but also MERS- and SARS-CoV pseudotyped lentiviral vectors and inhibited virus infections in vitro . Mechanistically, inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike–receptor interaction was observed. Thus, EGCG might be suitable for use as a lead structure to develop more effective anti-COVID-19 drugs.