Individuals receiving a liver transplant who are vulnerable to infection by Hepatitis C virus may find green tea inhibits HCV re-infection.
In a paper published in the December 2011 issue of the journal Hepatology, researchers Sandra Ciesek and Eike Steinmann from the Hannover Medical School in Germany sought relief for the substantial number of patients who do not respond to a standard treatment of interferon with ribavirin and protease inhibitors that are administered to clear the body of HVC.
“Our study further explores the potential effect these flavonoids have in preventing HCV reinfection following liver transplantation,” she said. “The green tea antioxidant EGCG inhibits HCV cell entry by blocking viral attachment and may offer a new approach to prevent HCV infection, particularly reinfection following liver transplantation,” according to Ciesek.
Source: Hepatology; Hepatitis Central; Times of India
