In silico analysis of the interactions of certain flavonoids with the receptor-binding domain of 2019 novel coronavirus and cellular proteases and their pharmacokinetic properties

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2022 Apr;40(6):2460-2474. doi: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1840444. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected more than thirty five million people worldwide and caused nearly 1 million deaths as of October 2020. The microorganism causing COVID-19 was named as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV). The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions of twenty-three phytochemicals belonging to different flavonoid subgroups with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike glycoprotein of 2019-nCoV, and cellular proteases [transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), cathepsin B and L (CatB/L)]. The compounds interacted more strongly with CatB and CatL than with the other proteins. Van der Waals and hydrogen bonds played an important role in the receptor-ligand interactions. As a result of RBCI (relative binding capacity index) analysis conducted to rank flavonoids in terms of their interactions with the target proteins, (-)-epicatechin gallate interacted strongly with all the proteins studied. The results obtained from molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) methods also supported this data. According to Lipinski's rule of five, (-)-epicatechin gallate showed drug-likeness properties. Although this molecule is not capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it was concluded that (-)-epicatechin gallate can be evaluated as a candidate molecule in drug development studies against 2019-nCoV since it was not the substrate of P-gp (P-glycoprotein), did not inhibit any of the cytochrome Ps, and did not show AMES toxicity or hepatotoxicity on eukaryotic cells.

Keywords: COVID-19; MM/PBSA; flavonoid; molecular docking; molecular dynamics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • COVID-19*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Peptide Hydrolases