Fig 5. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibits severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and replication in Caco-2 cells.

(A) Schematic outline of the experimental procedure. SARS-CoV-2 (MOI 0.5)-infected Caco-2 cells were co-cultured with EGCG at a final concentration of 50 or 100 μM. At 2 hpi, the cells were washed with phosphate-buffered saline thrice, and fresh medium was added. At 24 hpi, the cell culture supernatant and cell lysate were collected, and the amount of viral RNA was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). (B) Measurement of the SARS-CoV-2 growth inhibition by EGCG determined by RT-qPCR of the nucleocapsid region of the SARS-CoV-2 genome using the supernatant (left) or cells (right). Values are presented as a percentage of control (mean ± SD). Asterisks indicate the significant difference compared with the dimethyl sulfoxide–treated control (**p < 0.01, *p < 0.05).