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Li H, Komori A, Li M, Chen X, Yang AWH, Sun X, Liu Y, Hung A, Zhao X, Zhou L. Multi-ligand molecular docking, simulation, free energy calculations and wavelet analysis of the synergistic effects between natural compounds baicalein and cubebin for the inhibition of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Liq 2023; 374:121253. [PMID: 36694691 DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Combination drugs have been used for several diseases for many years since they produce better therapeutic effects. However, it is still a challenge to discover candidates to form a combination drug. This study aimed to investigate whether using a comprehensive in silico approach to identify novel combination drugs from a Chinese herbal formula is an appropriate and creative strategy. We, therefore, used Toujie Quwen Granules for the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 as an example. We first used molecular docking to identify molecular components of the formula which may inhibit Mpro. Baicalein (HQA004) is the most favorable inhibitory ligand. We also identified a ligand from the other component, cubebin (CHA008), which may act to support the proposed HQA004 inhibitor. Molecular dynamics simulations were then performed to further elucidate the possible mechanism of inhibition by HQA004 and synergistic bioactivity conferred by CHA008. HQA004 bound strongly at the active site and that CHA008 enhanced the contacts between HQA004 and Mpro. However, CHA008 also dynamically interacted at multiple sites, and continued to enhance the stability of HQA004 despite diffusion to a distant site. We proposed that HQA004 acted as a possible inhibitor, and CHA008 served to enhance its effects via allosteric effects at two sites. Additionally, our novel wavelet analysis showed that as a result of CHA008 binding, the dynamics and structure of Mpro were observed to have more subtle changes, demonstrating that the inter-residue contacts within Mpro were disrupted by the synergistic ligand. This work highlighted the molecular mechanism of synergistic effects between different herbs as a result of allosteric crosstalk between two ligands at a protein target, as well as revealed that using the multi-ligand molecular docking, simulation, free energy calculations and wavelet analysis to discover novel combination drugs from a Chinese herbal remedy is an innovative pathway.
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Key Words
- ADME/T, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity
- COVID-19
- COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019
- Combination drug therapy
- Computer simulation
- Computers molecular
- H-bonds, hydrogen bonds
- LD50, median lethal dose
- MD, molecular dynamics
- MM-PBSA, molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area
- Mpro, main protease
- Natural products
- PAINS, Pan-assay interference compounds
- RCO, inter-residue contact order
- RMSF, root-mean-square-fluctuation
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SMILES, Simplified Molecular-input Line-entry System
- TCMSP, traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform
- TQG, Toujie Quwen Granule
- Virus diseases
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Zhang Z, Hao M, Zhang X, He Y, Chen X, Taylor EW, Zhang J. Potential of green tea EGCG in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant with greater tropism toward the upper respiratory tract. Trends Food Sci Technol 2023; 132:40-53. [PMID: 36594074 PMCID: PMC9796359 DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 infection has had an enormous adverse impact on global public health. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the WHO declared several variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. Compared with earlier variants, Omicron, now a dominant lineage, exhibits characteristics of enhanced transmissibility, tropism shift toward the upper respiratory tract, and attenuated disease severity. The robust transmission of Omicron despite attenuated disease severity still poses a great challenge for pandemic control. Under this circumstance, its tropism shift may be utilized for discovering effective preventive approaches. Scope and approach This review aims to estimate the potential of green tea epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most potent antiviral catechin, in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, based on current knowledge concerning EGCG distribution in tissues and Omicron tropism. Key findings and conclusions EGCG has a low bioavailability. Plasma EGCG levels are in the range of submicromolar concentrations following green tea drinking, or reach at most low μM concentrations after pharmacological intervention. Nonetheless, its levels in the upper respiratory tract could reach concentrations as high as tens or even hundreds of μM following green tea consumption or pharmacological intervention. An approach for delivering sufficiently high concentrations of EGCG in the pharynx has been developed. Convincing data have demonstrated that EGCG at tens to hundreds of μM can dramatically neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and effectively eliminate SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effects and plaque formation. Thus, EGCG, which exhibits hyperaccumulation in the upper respiratory tract, deserves closer investigation as an antiviral in the current global battle against COVID-19, given Omicron's greater tropism toward the upper respiratory tract.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- COVID-19
- EGCG
- EGCG, epigallocatechin-3-gallate
- GRP78, glucose-regulated protein 78
- HO-1, hemeoxygenase 1
- IFN-β, interferon-β
- Mpro, main protease
- MxA, MxGTPases
- Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2
- Nsp15, nonstructural protein 15
- Omicron variant
- SARS-CoV-2
- TMPRSS2, transmembrane serine protease 2
- The upper respiratory tract
- Tropism
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea & Food Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Xiangchun Zhang
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, China
| | - Yufeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea & Food Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Xiongsheng Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ethan Will Taylor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA
| | - Jinsong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea & Food Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
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Yusuf AP, Zhang JY, Li JQ, Muhammad A, Abubakar MB. Herbal medications and natural products for patients with covid-19 and diabetes mellitus: Potentials and challenges. Phytomed Plus 2022; 2:100280. [PMID: 35463625 PMCID: PMC9014648 DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among COVID-19 patients is associated with increased hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Evidence has shown that hyperglycemia potentiates SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection and plays a central role in severe COVID-19 and diabetes comorbidity. In this review, we explore the therapeutic potentials of herbal medications and natural products in the management of COVID-19 and DM comorbidity and the challenges associated with the preexisting or concurrent use of these substances. METHODS Research papers that were published from January 2016 to December 2021 were retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. Papers reporting clinical evidence of antidiabetic activities and any available evidence of the anti-COVID-19 potential of ten selected natural products were retrieved and analyzed for discussion in this review. RESULTS A total of 548 papers (73 clinical trials on the antidiabetic activities of the selected natural products and 475 research and review articles on their anti-COVID-19 potential) were retrieved from the literature search for further analysis. A total of 517 articles (reviews and less relevant research papers) were excluded. A cumulative sum of thirty-one (31) research papers (20 clinical trials and 10 others) met the criteria and have been discussed in this review. CONCLUSION The findings of this review suggest that phenolic compounds are the most promising phytochemicals in the management of COVID-19 and DM comorbidity. Curcumin and propolis have shown substantial evidence against COVID-19 and DM in humans and are thus, considered the best potential therapeutic options.
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Key Words
- 8-OHDG, 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine
- ACE2
- ACE2, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- ADMA, asymmetric de-methyl-arginine
- ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- COVID-19
- Comorbidity
- DM, diabetes mellitus
- Diabetes
- FBS, fasting blood sugar
- GLUT-4, glucose transporter-4
- GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase-3β
- HDL, high-density lipoprotein
- HOMA, homeostasis model assessment
- Herbal medication
- IAPP, islet amyloid polypeptide
- IFN, interferon
- IFNAR2, interferon-alpha receptor 2
- IL-6, interleukin-6
- LDL, low-density lipoprotein
- MDA, malondialdehyde
- Mpro, main protease
- Natural products
- PLpro, papain-like protease
- PON1, paraoxonase-1
- RBD, receptor-binding domain
- RCT, randomized control trial
- RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2
- SFJDC, Shufeng Jiedu Capsule
- T1D, type 1 diabetes
- T2D, type 2 diabetes
- TAC, total antioxidant capacity
- TMPRSS2, transmembrane protease serine 2
- hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurrahman Pharmacy Yusuf
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
| | - Jian-Ye Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, the NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, P.R. China
| | - Jing-Quan Li
- The first Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, P.R. China
| | - Aliyu Muhammad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, 810107, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| | - Murtala Bello Abubakar
- Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2254, Sokoto, Nigeria
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Khalil TE, Elbadawy HA, Attia AA, El-Sayed DS. Synthesis, spectroscopic, and computational studies on molecular charge-transfer complex of 2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene) amino)-2-(hydroxymethyl) propane-1, 3-diol with chloranilic acid: Potential antiviral activity simulation of CT-complex against SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Struct 2022; 1251:132010. [PMID: 34866653 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.132010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
An innovative charge-transfer complex between the Schiff base 2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene) amino)-2-(hydroxymethyl) propane-1,3-diol [SAL-THAM] and the π-acceptor, chloranilic acid (CLA) within the mole ratio (1:1) was synthesized and characterized aiming to investigate its electronic transition spectra in acetonitrile (ACN), methanol (MeOH) and ethanol (EtOH) solutions. Applying Job`s method in the three solvents supported the 1:1 (CLA: SAL-THAM) mole ratio complex formation. The formation of stable CT- complex was shown by the highest values of charge-transfer complex formation constants, KCT, calculated using minimum-maximum absorbance method, with the sequence, acetonitrile > ethanol > methanol DFT study on the synthesized CT complex was applied based on the B3LYP method to evaluate the optimized structure and extract geometrical and reactivity parameters. Based on TD-DFT theory, the electronic properties, 1H and 13C NMR, IR, and UV-Vis spectra of the studied system in different solvents showing good agreement with the experimental studies. MEP map described the possibility of hydrogen bonding and charge transfer in the studied system. Finally, a computational approach for screening the antiviral activity of CT - complex towards SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus protease via molecular docking simulation was conducted and confirmed with molecular dynamic (MD) simulation.
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Key Words
- ACN, acetonitrile
- CLA, chloranilic acid
- CT-complex, charge transfer complex
- Charge-transfer complex
- Chloranilic
- DFT
- DFT, density functional theory
- DFT/GIAO, density functional theory/ gauge-including atomic orbital
- EtOH, ethanol
- GC-376, 3C-like protease
- HB, hydrogen bonding
- HOMO, higher occupied molecular orbital
- LUMO, lower unoccupied molecular orbital
- MD, molecular dynamic simulation
- MEP, molecular electrostatic potential
- MeOH, methanol
- Molecular docking
- Mpro, main protease
- NBO, natural bond orbital
- NCI, non-covalent interaction
- NCI-RDG, non-covalent interaction-reduced density gradient analysis
- NRE, nuclear repulsion energy
- PCM, polarizable continuum model
- PDB, protein data bank
- PLpro, paplian-like protease
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome corona-virus 2
- Spectroscopic
- TD-DFT, time dependent- density functional theory
- VDW, van der Waals
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Islam SS, Midya S, Sinha S, Saadi SMAI. Natural medicinal plant products as an immune-boosters: A possible role to lessen the impact of Covid-19. Case Stud Chem Environ Eng 2021; 4:100105. [PMID: 38620656 PMCID: PMC8096520 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2021.100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible Covid-19, caused by novel corona virus since last of 2019 has outspread widely until now. Where, India was the second most affected country and 3rd in mortality rate. In world ancient history, medicinal plants were played a crucial role to cure several diseases. In present study, we show some novel natural medicinal plant metabolites as the potential inhibitors against papain-like protease (PLpro), main protease (Mpro) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), transmembrane proteinase Serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) of Covid-19. Plant metabolites were having been proven to inhibit SARS-CoVs, which also actively walkable against Covid-19.
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Key Words
- ACE-2, angiotensin converting enzyme-2
- CSG, Coronavirus Study Group
- Covid-19
- Covid-19, corona virus disease-2019
- E, small envelope protein
- IC, Inhibitory concentration
- ICTV, International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
- M, matrix protein
- Medicinal plant
- Mpro, main protease
- N, nucleocapsid protein
- PLpro, papain-like protease
- Plant metabolites
- RBD, receptor binding domain
- RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
- S, spike protein
- SARS-CoV
- ST, swine testicular
- TMPRSS2, transmembrane proteinase Serine 2
- WHO, world health organization
- nsps, non-structural proteins
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Saruk Islam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, 741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Sujoy Midya
- Department of Zoology, Raja N.L. Khan Women's College, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721102, India
| | - Sanjit Sinha
- Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, 721102, India
| | - Sk Md Abu Imam Saadi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Aliah University, IIA/27, New Town, Kolkata, 700160, West Bengal, India
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Wang Z, Yang L, Zhao XE. Co-crystallization and structure determination: An effective direction for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4684-4701. [PMID: 34426762 PMCID: PMC8373586 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Safer and more-effective drugs are urgently needed to counter infections with the highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2, cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Identification of efficient inhibitors to treat and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection is a predominant focus. Encouragingly, using X-ray crystal structures of therapeutically relevant drug targets (PLpro, Mpro, RdRp, and S glycoprotein) offers a valuable direction for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery and lead optimization through direct visualization of interactions. Computational analyses based primarily on MMPBSA calculations have also been proposed for assessing the binding stability of biomolecular structures involving the ligand and receptor. In this study, we focused on state-of-the-art X-ray co-crystal structures of the abovementioned targets complexed with newly identified small-molecule inhibitors (natural products, FDA-approved drugs, candidate drugs, and their analogues) with the assistance of computational analyses to support the precision design and screening of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.
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Key Words
- 3CLpro, 3C-Like protease
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019
- Candidate drugs
- Co-crystal structures
- DyKAT, dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation
- EBOV, Ebola virus
- EC50, half maximal effective concentration
- EMD, Electron Microscopy Data
- FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA-approved drugs
- HCoV-229E, human coronavirus 229E
- HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography
- IC50, half maximal inhibitory concentration
- MD, molecular dynamics
- MERS-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- MMPBSA, molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area
- MTase, methyltransferase
- Mpro, main protease
- Natural products
- Nsp, nonstructural protein
- PDB, Protein Data Bank
- PLpro, papain-like protease
- RTP, ribonucleoside triphosphate
- RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
- SAM, S-adenosylmethionine
- SARS-CoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SI, selectivity index
- Ugi-4CR, Ugi four-component reaction
- cryo-EM, cryo-electron microscopy
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China
| | - Xian-En Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China
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Ghosh R, Chakraborty A, Biswas A, Chowdhuri S. Identification of alkaloids from Justicia adhatoda as potent SARS CoV-2 main protease inhibitors: An in silico perspective. J Mol Struct 2021; 1229:129489. [PMID: 33100380 PMCID: PMC7571971 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.129489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS CoV-2, is responsible for millions of death worldwide. No approved/proper therapeutics is currently available which can effectively combat this outbreak. Several attempts have been undertaken in the search of effective drugs to control the spread of SARS CoV-2 infection. The main protease (Mpro), key component for the cleavage of the viral polyprotein, is considered to be one of the important drug targets for treating COVID-19. Various phytochemicals, including polyphenols and alkaloids, have been proposed as potent inhibitors of Mpro. The alkaloids from leaf extracts of Justicia adhatoda have also been reported to possess anti-viral activity. But whether these alkaloids exhibit any inhibitory effect on SARS CoV-2 Mpro is far from clear. To explore this in detail, we have adopted computational approaches. Justicia adhatoda alkaloids possessing proper drug-likeness properties and two anti-HIV drugs (lopinavir and darunavir; having binding affinity -7.3 to -7.4 kcal/mol) were docked against SARS CoV-2 Mpro to study their binding properties. Only one alkaloid (anisotine) had interaction with both the catalytic residues (His41 and Cys145) of Mpro and exhibited good binding affinity (-7.9 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamic simulations (100 ns) revealed that Mpro-anisotine complex is more stable, conformationally less fluctuated; slightly less compact and marginally expanded than Mpro-darunavir/lopinavir complex. Even the number of intermolecular H-bonds and MM-GBSA analysis suggested that anisotine is a more potent Mpro inhibitor than the two previously recommended antiviral drugs (lopinavir and darunavir) and may evolve as a promising anti-COVID-19 drug if proven in animal experiments and on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Ghosh
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ayon Chakraborty
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ashis Biswas
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Snehasis Chowdhuri
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
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