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Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

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ISSN (Print): 1568-0266
ISSN (Online): 1873-4294

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Research Article

Anti-COVID-19 Potential of Withaferin-A and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester

Author(s): Vipul Kumar, Anissa Nofita Sari, Dharmender Gupta, Yoshiyuki Ishida, Keiji Terao, Sunil C. Kaul, Sudhanshu Vrati*, Durai Sundar* and Renu Wadhwa*

Volume 24, Issue 9, 2024

Published on: 24 January, 2024

Page: [830 - 842] Pages: 13

DOI: 10.2174/0115680266280720231221100004

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: The recent COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic triggered research on the development of new vaccines/drugs, repurposing of clinically approved drugs, and assessment of natural anti-COVID-19 compounds. Based on the gender difference in the severity of the disease, such as a higher number of men hospitalized and in intense care units, variations in sex hormones have been predicted to play a role in disease susceptibility. Cell surface receptors (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; ACE2 and a connected transmembrane protease serine 2- TMPSS2) are upregulated by androgens. Conversely, androgen antagonists have also been shown to lower ACE2 levels, implying their usefulness in COVID-19 management.

Objectives: In this study, we performed computational and cell-based assays to investigate the anti- COVID-19 potential of Withaferin-A and Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, natural compounds from Withania somnifera and honeybee propolis, respectively.

Methods: Structure-based computational approach was adopted to predict binding stability, interactions, and dynamics of the two test compounds to three target proteins (androgen receptor, ACE2, and TMPRSS2). Further, in vitro, cell-based experimental approaches were used to investigate the effect of compounds on target protein expression and SARS-CoV-2 replication.

Results: Computation and experimental analyses revealed that (i) CAPE, but not Wi-A, can act as androgen antagonist and hence inhibit the transcriptional activation function of androgen receptor, (ii) while both Wi-A and CAPE could interact with ACE2 and TMPRSS2, Wi-A showed higher binding affinity, and (iii) combination of Wi-A and CAPE (Wi-ACAPE) caused strong downregulation of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression and inhibition of virus infection.

Conclusion: Wi-A and CAPE possess multimodal anti-COVID-19 potential, and their combination (Wi-ACAPE) is expected to provide better activity and hence warrant further attention in the laboratory and clinic.

Keywords: Withaferin-A, Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, SARS-CoV-2, Androgen Receptor (AR), Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2).

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