EGCG, a green tea polyphenol, inhibits human coronavirus replication in vitro

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 547; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Jang, Minsu, Park, Rackhyun, Park, Yea-In, Cha, Yeo-Eun, Yamamoto, Ayane, Lee, Jin I., Park, Junsoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 02.04.2021
• Subjects: 3CL-protease; Amino Acid Sequence; Cell Line, Tumor; Coronavirus; Coronavirus 229E, Human - drug effects; Coronavirus 229E, Human - physiology; Coronavirus 3C Proteases - antagonists & inhibitors; Coronavirus OC43, Human - drug effects; Coronavirus OC43, Human - physiology; EGCG; HCoV-229E; HCoV-OC43; Humans; Polyphenols - pharmacology; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Tea - chemistry; Virus Replication - drug effects; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; HCoV-229E; EGCG; 3CL-protease; HCoV-OC43
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.02.016

COVID-19 pandemic results in record high deaths in many countries. Although a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is now available, effective antiviral drugs to treat coronavirus diseases are not available yet. Recently, EGCG, a green tea polyphenol, was reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CL-protease, however the effect of EGCG on coronavirus replication is unknown. In this report, human coronavirus HCoV-OC43 (beta coronavirus) and HCoV-229E (alpha coronavirus) were used to examine the effect of EGCG on coronavirus. EGCG treatment decreases 3CL-protease activity of HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E. Moreover, EGCG treatment decreased HCoV-OC43-induced cytotoxicity. Finally, we found that EGCG treatment decreased the levels of coronavirus RNA and protein in infected cell media. These results indicate that EGCG inhibits coronavirus replication. [Display omitted] •EGCG inhibits the 3CL-protease activity of HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E.•EGCG reduces HCoV-OC43-induced cytotoxicity.•EGCG decreases coronavirus RNA and protein levels in infected cell media.