Antiviral Mechanism of Action of Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate and Its Fatty Acid Esters

Abstract

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) is the major catechin component of green tea (Cameria sinensis), and is known to possess antiviral activities against a wide range of DNA viruses and RNA viruses. However, few studies have examined chemical modifications of EGCG in terms of enhanced antiviral efficacy. This paper discusses which steps of virus infection EGCG interferes with, citing previous reports. EGCG appears most likely to inhibits the early stage of infections, such as attachment, entry, and membrane fusion, by interfering with viral membrane proteins. According to the relationships between structure and antiviral activity of catechin derivatives, the 3-galloyl and 5′-OH group of catechin derivatives appear critical to antiviral activities. Enhancing the binding affinity of EGCG to virus particles would thus be important to increase virucidal activity. We propose a newly developed EGCG-fatty acid derivative in which the fatty acid on the phenolic hydroxyl group would be expected to increase viral and cellular membrane permeability. EGCG-fatty acid monoesters showed improved antiviral activities against different types of viruses, probably due to their increased affinity for virus and cellular membranes. Our study promotes the application of EGCG-fatty acid derivatives for the prevention and treatment of viral infections.

Epigallocatechin-Gallate and Theaflavin-Gallate Interaction in SARS CoV-2 Spike-Protein Central-Channel with Reference to the Hydroxychloroquine Interaction: Bioinformatics and Molecular Docking Study

“…It decisively helps in DNA protections by scavenging free radicals and that efficacy was found to be even greater than the known specific radical-scavengers [14,15]. According to the relationships between structure and antiviral activity of catechin derivatives, the 3-galloyl and 5′-OH group of catechin derivatives appear critical to antiviral activities [22]. Preclinicalin vitroactivity of QR-435 green tea extract against influenza A virus as a virucide and in paper masks for prevention of viraltransmission.…”

“…The gargling with tea extracts and/or flavonoids may protect from influenza virus [18]. EGCG-fatty acid derivative is important because fatty acid on the phenolic hydroxyl group increase viral and cellular membrane permeability which protects from viral infection [19]. Preliminary attachment to cellular glycans is a critical step for entry of several human viruses.…”

The Effects of Green Tea and Propolis Extracts on pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-?, IFN-?, IL2, and Immunoglobulin Production in Experimentally Infected Rabbits with Bovine Herpesvirus-1.

“…The antiviral activity of propolis and green tea had stronger effect on BHV-1 might be due to a major components of extracts that interfere in the replication by inhibiting protein synthesis. In addition, some components have been reported to inhibit the enzymatic activity, viral attachment and penetration as shown in figure 2 shown, the results according with Kwak et al (2004) and Kaihatsu et al (2018) who suggested that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (the primary catechin in green tea) used in potent and universal virus inhibitor among the natural catechins, directly interacting not only with various types of enveloped DNA, (+)-RNA, and (−)-RNA viruses, but also various types of cells. However, the propolis could be inhibit virus propagation through reduction of viral multiplication and induced virucidal action (De Koeijer et al, 2008;Superti et al, 2008).…”

Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Chikungunya Virus

“…Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is another naturally occurring compound that inhibited CHIKV infection (Weber et al 2015). A major component of green tea, EGCG has displayed antiviral abilities through an interaction with viral surface proteins that inhibits cellular attachment (Kaihatsu et al 2018). While concurrent administration of EGCG with infectious CHIKV was able to reduce the rate of infection, this was not observed when EGCG was added following infection with CHIKV (Lu et al 2017).…”