Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the Hantaan virus (HTNV) both in vitro and in vivo, and to identify the potential targets of EGCG against HTNV using molecular docking. First, the cytotoxicity of EGCG was determined using a cell viability assay. Then, EGCG was administered for treatment at different time points during HTNV infection, and the viral expression of HTNV in A549 cells was detected by western blotting, real-time PCR, indirect immunofluorescence, and focus formation assay (FFA) at 24 h and 48 h. Molecular docking was conducted using Autodock Vina software. Finally, the challenged nude mice were administered high, medium, and low doses of EGCG via gavage, and their body weight and survival rates were measured. The results indicate that the administration of 100 μmol·L^-1 EGCG effectively inhibited HTNV infection in vitro, primarily affecting the adsorption stage of HTNV. The molecular docking results demonstrate that EGCG could interact with HTNV Gn and Gc, with binding energies of ﹣9.0 kcal·mol^-1 and ﹣7.1 kcal·mol^-1, respectively. High, medium, and low doses of EGCG (50.0, 25.0, 12.5 mg·kg^-1) effectively reduced the mortality rate of challenged nude mice, and significantly mitigated weight loss in these mice.

Key words: HTNV, EGCG, antiviral infection