Title:In-Silico Study to Identify Dietary Molecules as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Agents
VOLUME: 18
Author(s):Mohammad Faheem Khan*, Mohsin Ali Khan, Zaw Ali Khan, Tanveer Ahamad and Waseem Ahmad Ansari
Affiliation:Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow- 226003, UP,, Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow- 226003, UP,, Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow- 226003, UP,, Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow- 226003, UP,, Department of Biotechnology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow- 226003, UP
Keywords:SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, dietary molecules, EGCG, curcumin, apigenin, molecular docking, nafamostat
Abstract:Background: Recently, Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by fatal strain of coronavirus named
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation
(WHO) on 11 March 2020. Globally, no therapy such as vaccines and specific therapeutic agents is available so far despite
of some protease inhibitors and antiviral agents.
Introduction: Because of no therapeutic drug or vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 so far, phytomedicine may be developed as
therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of current COVID-19 disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to find out
a suitable therapeutic agent from selected 17 dietary molecules, which could target SARS-CoV-2 encoded proteins.
Method: In this study, 3D structures of selected dietary molecules were obtained from the PubChem database, which have
previously reported for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Then, molecular docking analysis by using AutoDoc4
and AutoDockVina software was conducted to evaluate their anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Lipinski’s rule of five and druglikeness
properties were also discussed with the help of Molinspiration and the OSIRIS property explorer methods.
Results and Discussion: Our result revealed that among all, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (7) is a lead compound that
could fit well into the binding sites of docked proteins of SARS-CoV-2. EGCG showed very strong molecular interactions
with the free enzyme of main protease (6y2e), chimeric receptor-binding domain complexed with human ACE2 (6vw1), and
NSP15 endoribonuclease (6vww) encoded proteins of SARS-CoV-2, by showing binding energies -9.30, -8.66, and -8.38,
kcal/mole respectively.
Conclusion: In the present study, EGCG (7) is more active than three standard drugs that are currently being used in
COVID 19, namely remdesivir and nafamostat. Therefore, EGCG (7), as per our results, might be explored as a therapeutic
agent for the treatment of COVID-19.
