title: Assessment of the activity of directly acting antivirals and other products against different genotypes of hepatitis C virus prevalent in resource-poor countries.
abstract: Certain food additives and drugs used for other indications have been shown to inhibit in vitro replication of HCV and have been proposed as cheap options for the treatment of HCV infections in resource-poor countries. We here report that the in vitro anti-HCV (genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a and 4b) activity of nitazoxanide, silymarin, silibinin and the green tea extract EGCG is very weak when compared to directly acting antivirals. HCV-infected patients in resource-poor countries should receive the best possible treatment (if possible via expanded access programs); it is therefore advisable not to plan clinical studies with drugs/compounds with weak anti-HCV activity.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium; Molecular Immunology Research Group, Health Care Biotechnology Department, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hayat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paeshuyse
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Research Group, Health Care Biotechnology Department, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sheeba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: johan.neyts@rega.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neyts
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005503:Food Additives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D015995:Prevalence; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005503:Food Additives; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D012838:Silymarin; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077385:Silybin; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; C041747:nitazoxanide
keywords: Direct acting antivirals; Food additives; Hepatitis C virus; Subgenomic replicons