title: The use of  sinecatechins  (polyphenon E) ointment for treatment of external genital warts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sinecatechins is a standardized extract of green tea leaves, containing a mixture of catechin compounds. The 15% ointment has been approved for the topical treatment of condylomata acuminata (CA), caused by particular human papillomaviruses (HPV), mainly HPV types 6 and 11.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To update the use of sinecatechins for treatment of CA and to describe possible mechanisms involved in the mode of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clearance rate of wart lesions after treatment with sinecatechins is similar to other topically applied drugs, like imiquimod and podophyllotoxin, but recurrences are seen less frequently after treatment with sinecatechins. The molecular mode of action underlying the clinical efficacy has yet not been characterized, but the following properties are likely to be involved in the regression of genital warts: activation of cellular immune reactions, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibition of HPV gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sinecatechins is a safe and effective treatment option for CA. Due to the variety of molecular activities of catechins the product has great potential for application to other viral and tumor lesions in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Berlin, Skin Cancer Center Charite, HTCC, Chariteplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. stockfleth@charite.de
authors.forename: Eggert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stockfleth
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D052140:Human papillomavirus 11 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D009824:Ointments; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009824:Ointments; D002392:Catechin; C472086:polyphenon E