The antiviral effect of catechins on mumps virus infection

Abstract

Catechins have been known to possess antiviral effects against influenza A and B viruses through the inhibition of both the viral receptor binding and viral sialidase activities. Here, we examined the antiviral effect of catechins on mumps virus infection. The addition of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, or catechin gallate simultaneously with the mumps virus infection of Vero cells greatly inhibited the infection. EGCG showed the strongest antiviral effect among the catechins tested. These catechins did not exhibit an inhibitory effect against the receptor binding and sialidase activities in the hemagglutinin–neuraminidase of the mumps virus, which was different from a known mechanism for influenza A and B viruses. By contrast, these catechins inhibited the viral fusion activity. Our results indicate that catechins are a useful food-derived antiviral agent against the mumps virus.

Keywords

• Catechin
• Mumps virus
• Antiviral effect
• Infection
• Fusion