A cinnamon-derived procyanidin type A compound inhibits hepatitis C virus cell entry

• DOI: 10.1007/s12072-017-9809-y
• Publication Date: 2017-07-11T08:13:44Z
• Authors: Catherine Fauvelle; Melanie Lambotin; Laura Heydmann; Ekambaranellore P...; Sunil Bhaskaran; Mohan Vishwaraman; Thomas F. Baumert; Christiane Moog
• Keywords: Entry inhibitor; Hepatitis C; Replicon

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. Although direct-acting antivirals can cure the large majority of treated patients, important limitations remain, including treatment failure and high costs precluding access to therapy in resource-limited settings. We report herein the anti-HCV effects of IND02, a procyanidin type A molecule, isolated and characterized from cinnamon.Using cellculture-derived HCV (HCVcc), HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp), and subgenomic replicons, we demonstrated that IND02 markedly and dose-dependently inhibited HCV cell entry. Kinetic assays demonstrated that IND02 inhibits HCV entry most likely at a postbinding step. Experiments performed using primary human hepatocytes confirmed inhibition of HCV entry by IND02, demonstrating the functional impact in the most physiological cell-based system for studying HCV-host interactions.The natural compound IND02 exhibits potent HCV cell entry inhibition and provides a novel perspective for development of a low-cost antiviral for treatment of HCV infection.