USE OF EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATE AS AN ANTIVIRAL AGENT FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTIONS

摘要

The present invention relates to a flavonoid compound of formula I in which at least one of R 3, R 5 or R 7 is a group of formula II, or R 1 and R 2 are both OH groups, or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters for use as an antiviral agent in the treatment and / or prevention of infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The invention also relates to an ex vivo method of reducing infectivity or inactivating HCV comprising a step of contacting said hepatitis C virus with a compound of formula (I).