Spread of hepatitis C may be inhibited by green tea
German researchers have found that a flavanoid, or one of the active ingredients in green tea, inhibits hepatitis C virus from entering the liver, following a transplant. For patients receiving transplants due to complication from hepatitis C, the antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG, may prevent the reinfection of the healthy donor liver. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 170 million people worldwide are affected by hepatitis C, which is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and a primary indication for liver transplantation. The antioxidant EGCG was found to possess antiviral properties and inhibit the rapid spread of hepatitis C.