Compounds derived from epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a novel approach to the prevention of viral infections.

Compounds derived from epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a novel approach to the prevention of viral infections. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2015 Oct 22; Authors: Hsu S Abstract Pathogenic viral infections pose major health risks to humans and livestock due to viral infection-associated illnesses such as chronic or acute inflammation in crucial organs and systems, malignant and benign lesions. These lead to large number of illnesses and deaths worldwide each year. Outbreaks of emerging lethal viruses, such as Ebola virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus, could lead to epidemics or even pandemics if they are not effectively controlled. Current strategies to prevent viral entry into the human body are focused on cleansing the surface of the skin that covers hands and fingers. Surface protection and disinfection against microorganisms, including viruses, is performed by sanitization of the skin surface through hand washing with soap and water, surface disinfectants, and hand sanitizers, particularly alcohol-based hand sanitizers. However, concerns about the overall ineffectiveness, toxicity of certain ingredients of disinfectants, pollution of the environment, and the short duration of antimicrobial activity of alcohol have not been addressed, and the epidemiology of certain major viral infections are not correlated inversely with the current measures of viral prevent...
Source: Inflammation and Allergy Drug Targets - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets Source Type: research