Enhanced anti-influenza A virus activity of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate fatty acid monoester derivatives: effect of alkyl chain length.

A series of fatty acid monoester derivatives of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) were prepared by one-pot lipase-catalyzed transesterification. The introduction of long alkyl chains enhanced anti-influenza A/PR8/34 (H1N1) virus activity 24-fold relative to native EGCG.