Identification of hydrolyzable tannins (punicalagin, punicalin and geraniin) as novel inhibitors of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA.

ABSTRACT: The development of new agents to target HBV cccDNA is urgently needed because of the limitations of current available drugs for treatment of hepatitis B. By using a cell-based assay in which the production of HBeAg is in a cccDNA-dependent manner, we screened a compound library derived from Chinese herbal remedies for inhibitors against HBV cccDNA. Three hydrolyzable tannins, specifically punicalagin, punicalin and geraniin, emerged as novel anti-HBV agents. These compounds significantly reduced the production of secreted HBeAg and cccDNA in a dose-dependent manner in our assay, without dramatic alteration of viral DNA replication. Furthermore, punicalagin did not affect precore/core promoter activity, pgRNA transcription, core protein expression, or HBsAg secretion. By employing the cell-

SUBMITTER: Liu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5653380 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature