HANNOVER, Germany—A flavonoid found in green tea may boost liver health in hepatitis patients by inhibiting the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from entering the liver and causing reinfection, particularly following liver transplantation, according to a new study published in the journal Hepatology.
Researchers at the Hannover Medical School in Germany investigated the effect of the epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) molecule in preventing HCV from attaching to liver cells. Result showed that unlike its derivatives, EGCG inhibits entry of HCV into liver cells. The authors suggest EGCG may impede HCV cell entry by acting on the host cell as the green tea catechin was not found to alter the density of virus particles. Pretreatment of cells with EGCG before HCV inoculation did not reduce the infection; however, application during inoculation inhibited the rapid spread of the HCV. The researchers also showed that EGCG inhibits viral attachment—the initial step in the HCV infection process.
“The green tea antioxidant EGCG inhibits HCV cell entry by blocking viral attachment and may offer a new approach to prevent HCV infection, particularly reinfection following liver transplantation," the researchers said.
