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Ismat F, Tariq A, Shaheen A, Ullah R, Raheem K, Muddassar M, Mahboob S, Abbas W, Iqbal M, Rahman M. Inhibition of NS2B-NS3 protease from all four serotypes of dengue virus by punicalagin, punicalin and ellagic acid identified from Punica granatum. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-16. [PMID: 38373021 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2314258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Despite a major threat to the public health in tropical and subtropical regions, dengue virus (DENV) infections are untreatable. Therefore, efforts are needed to investigate cost-effective therapeutic agents that could cure DENV infections in future. The NS2B-NS3 protease encoded by the genome of DENV is considered a critical target for the development of anti-dengue drugs. The objective of the current study was to find out a specific inhibitor of the NS2B-NS3 proteases from all four serotypes of DENV. To begin with, nine plant extracts with a medicinal history were evaluated for their role in inhibiting the NS2B-NS3 proteases by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assay. Among the tested extracts, Punica granatum was found to be the most effective one. The metabolic profiling of this extract revealed the presence of several active compounds, including ellagic acid, punicalin and punicalagin, which are well-established antiviral agents. Further evaluation of IC50 values of these three antiviral molecules revealed punicalagin as the most potent anti-NS2B-NS3 protease drug with IC50 of 0.91 ± 0.10, 0.75 ± 0.05, 0.42 ± 0.03, 1.80 ± 0.16 µM against proteases from serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The docking studies demonstrated that these compounds interacted at the active site of the enzyme, mainly with His and Ser residues. Molecular dynamics simulations analysis also showed the structural stability of the NS2B-NS3 proteases in the presence of punicalagin. In summary, this study concludes that the punicalagin can act as an effective inhibitor against NS2B-NS3 proteases from all four serotypes of DENV.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fouzia Ismat
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Anam Tariq
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Aqsa Shaheen
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Raheem Ullah
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Kayode Raheem
- Department of Bioscience, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Muddassar
- Department of Bioscience, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Mahboob
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Wasim Abbas
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Mazhar Iqbal
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Moazur Rahman
- Health Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NIBGE-C, PIEAS), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Alexova R, Alexandrova S, Dragomanova S, Kalfin R, Solak A, Mehan S, Petralia MC, Fagone P, Mangano K, Nicoletti F, Tancheva L. Anti-COVID-19 Potential of Ellagic Acid and Polyphenols of Punica granatum L. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093772. [PMID: 37175181 PMCID: PMC10180134 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a rich source of polyphenols, including ellagitannins and ellagic acid. The plant is used in traditional medicine, and its purified components can provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and support of host defenses during viral infection and recovery from disease. Current data show that pomegranate polyphenol extract and its ellagitannin components and metabolites exert their beneficial effects by controlling immune cell infiltration, regulating the cytokine secretion and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production, and by modulating the activity of the NFκB pathway. In vitro, pomegranate extracts and ellagitannins interact with and inhibit the infectivity of a range of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. In silico docking studies show that ellagitannins bind to several SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins, including a number of proteases. This warrants further exploration of polyphenol-viral and polyphenol-host interactions in in vitro and in vivo studies. Pomegranate extracts, ellagitannins and ellagic acid are promising agents to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to restrict the host inflammatory response to viral infections, as well as to supplement the depleted host antioxidant levels during the stage of recovery from COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralitza Alexova
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Medical University-Sofia, Zdrave Str. 2, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Simona Alexandrova
- Department of Biological Effects of Natural and Synthetic Substances, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Block 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stela Dragomanova
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Marin Drinov Str. 55, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Reni Kalfin
- Department of Biological Effects of Natural and Synthetic Substances, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Block 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Healthcare, South-West University "Neofit Rilski", Ivan Mihailov Str. 66, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Ayten Solak
- Institute of Cryobiology and Food Technologies, Cherni Vrah Blvd. 5, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sidharth Mehan
- Department of Pharmacology, Division of Neuroscience, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga 142001, India
| | - Maria Cristina Petralia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Fagone
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 89, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Katia Mangano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 89, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 89, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Lyubka Tancheva
- Department of Biological Effects of Natural and Synthetic Substances, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Block 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Keikha M, Kamali H, Ghazvini K, Karbalaei M. Antimicrobial peptides: natural or synthetic defense peptides against HBV and HCV infections. Virusdisease 2022; 33:445-455. [PMID: 36447811 PMCID: PMC9701303 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-022-00790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the literature, treatment of HCV and HBV infections faces challenges due to problems such as the emergence of drug-resistant mutants, the high cost of treatment, and the side effects of current antiviral therapy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a group of small peptides, are a part of the immune system and are considered as an alternative treatment for microbial infections. These peptides are water-soluble with amphiphilic (hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces) characteristics. AMPs are produced by a wide range of organisms including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The antiviral mechanisms of AMPs include inhibiting virus entry, inhibiting intracellular virus replication, inhibiting intracellular viral packaging, and inducing immune responses. In addition, AMPs are a new generation of antiviral biomolecules that have very low toxicity for human host cells, particularly liver cell lines. AMPs can be considered as one of the most important strategies for developing new adjuvant drugs in the treatment of HBV and HCV infections. In the present study, several groups of AMPs (with a net positive charge) such as Human cathelicidin, Claudin-1, Defensins, Hepcidin, Lactoferrin, Casein, Plectasin, Micrococcin P1, Scorpion venom, and Synthetic peptides were reviewed with antiviral properties against HBV and HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Keikha
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hossein Kamali
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Kiarash Ghazvini
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohsen Karbalaei
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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Khan M, Rauf W, Habib FE, Rahman M, Iqbal S, Shehzad A, Iqbal M. Hesperidin identified from Citrus extracts potently inhibits HCV genotype 3a NS3 protease. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:98. [PMID: 35366855 PMCID: PMC8976278 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03578-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus infection is the main cause of liver ailments across the globe. Several HCV genotypes have been identified in different parts of the world. Effective drugs for combating HCV infections are available but not affordable, particularly to infected individuals from resource-limited countries. Hence, cost-effective drugs need to be developed against important HCV drug targets. As Citrus fruits naturally contain bioactive compounds with antiviral activities, the current study was designed to identify antiviral inhibitors from Citrus fruit extracts against an important drug target, NS3 protease, of HCV genotype 3a which is found predominantly in South Asian countries. Methods The full-length NS3 protease alone and the NS3 protease domain in fusion with the cognate NS4A cofactor were expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified by chromatographic techniques. Using the purified protein as a drug target, Citrus extracts were evaluated in a FRET assay, and active ingredients, identified using ESI–MS/MS, were docked to observe the interaction with active site residues of NS3. The best interacting compound was further confirmed through the FRET assay as the inhibitor of NS3 protease. Results Fusion of the NS3 protease domain to the NS4A cofactor significantly improved the purification yield, and NS3-NS4A was functionally more active than the full-length NS3 alone. The purified protein (NS3-NS4A) was successfully employed in a validated FRET assay to evaluate 14 Citrus fruit extracts, revealing that the mesocarp extract of Citrus paradisi, and whole fruit extracts of C. sinesis, C. aurantinum, and C. reticulata significantly inhibited the protease activity of HCV NS3 protease (IC50 values of 5.79 ± 1.44 µg/mL, 37.19 ± 5.92 µg/mL, 42.62 ± 6.89 µg/mL, and 57.65 ± 3.81 µg/mL, respectively). Subsequent ESI-MSn analysis identified a flavonoid, hesperidin, abundantly present in all the afore-mentioned Citrus extracts. Importantly, docking studies suggested that hesperidin interacts with active site residues, and acts as a potent inhibitor of NS3 protease, exhibiting an IC50 value of 11.34 ± 3.83 µg/mL. Conclusions A FRET assay was developed using NS3-NS4A protease, which was successfully utilized for the evaluation of Citrus fruit extracts. Hesperidin, a compound present in the Citrus extracts, was identified as the main flavonoid, which can serve as a cost-effective potent inhibitor of NS3 protease, and could be developed as a drug for antiviral therapy against HCV genotype 3a. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03578-1.
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Xiang Q, Li M, Wen J, Ren F, Yang Z, Jiang X, Chen Y. The bioactivity and applications of pomegranate peel extract: A review. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14105. [PMID: 35128669 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pomegranate peel (PP) is a by-product in the processing of pomegranate products, which is usually discarded as a waste. However, a large number of researches have shown that pomegranate peel extract (PPE) is rich in a variety of phenolic substances, among which ellagic acid (EA), as one of the main active components, has significant biological activities, such as anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. We analyzed the mechanism of EA's biological activity, and discussed its application in the food industry, for instance, food preservation, food additives, and functional foods. Combined with the research status of PPE, we discussed the limitations and development potential of PPE, in order to provide theoretical reference and scientific basis for the development and utilization of pomegranate by-products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Pomegranate peel (PP), the inedible part of the fruit, is usually treated as waste. In recent years, researchers have been committed to exploring various bioactive ingredients in PP and exploring its potential benefits to human health, which has far-reaching significance. In this paper, the chemical constituents of polyphenols in PP were reviewed, mainly focusing on the biological activity and mechanism of ellagic acid (EA). We reviewed the applications and invention patents of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) in food field, including food preservation, food additive, and functional foods, providing reference for the recycling and reuse of PP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Xiang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Meifeng Li
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiayu Wen
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fajian Ren
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhou Yang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingyue Jiang
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
RNA viruses cause many routine illnesses, such as the common cold and the flu. Recently, more deadly diseases have emerged from this family of viruses. The hepatitis C virus has had a devastating impact worldwide. Despite the cures developed in the U.S. and Europe, economically disadvantaged countries remain afflicted by HCV infection due to the high cost of these medications. More recently, COVID-19 has swept across the world, killing millions and disrupting economies and lifestyles; the virus responsible for this pandemic is a coronavirus. Our understanding of HCV and SARS CoV-2 replication is still in its infancy. Helicases play a critical role in the replication, transcription and translation of viruses. These key enzymes need extensive study not only as an essential player in the viral lifecycle, but also as targets for antiviral therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge for RNA helicases of high importance to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Marecki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Binyam Belachew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Kevin D Raney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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