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Lingwan M, Shagun S, Pahwa F, Kumar A, Verma DK, Pant Y, Kamatam LVK, Kumari B, Nanda RK, Sunil S, Masakapalli SK. Phytochemical rich Himalayan Rhododendron arboreum petals inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:1403-1413. [PMID: 34961411 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2021287] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Phytochemicals with potential to competitively bind to the host receptors or inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication, may prove to be useful as adjunct therapeutics for COVID-19. We profiled and investigated the phytochemicals of Rhododendron arboreum petals sourced from Himalayan flora, undertook in vitro studies and found it as a promising candidate against SARS-CoV-2. The phytochemicals were reported in various scientific investigations to act against a range of virus in vitro and in vivo, which prompted us to test against SARS-CoV-2. In vitro assays of R. arboreum petals hot aqueous extract confirmed dose dependent reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load in infected Vero E6 cells (80% inhibition at 1 mg/ml; IC50 = 173 µg/ml) and phytochemicals profiled were subjected to molecular docking studies against SARS CoV-2 target proteins. The molecules 5-O-Feruloyl-quinic acid, 3-Caffeoyl-quinic acid, 5-O-Coumaroyl-D-quinic acid, Epicatechin and Catechin showed promising binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 Main protease (MPro; PDB ID: 6LU7; responsible for viral replication) and Human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2; PDB ID: 1R4L; mediate viral entry in the host). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of 5-O-Feruloyl-quinic acid, an abundant molecule in the extract complexed with the target proteins showed stable interactions. Taken together, the phytochemical profiling, in silico analysis and in vitro anti-viral assay revealed that the petals extract act upon MPro and may be inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication. This is the first report highlighting R. arboreum petals as a reservoir of antiviral phytochemicals with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity using an in vitro system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maneesh Lingwan
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Shagun Shagun
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Falak Pahwa
- Translational Health Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankit Kumar
- Vector Borne Disease Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Dileep Kumar Verma
- Vector Borne Disease Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Yogesh Pant
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Lingarao V K Kamatam
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Bandna Kumari
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Ranjan Kumar Nanda
- Translational Health Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sujatha Sunil
- Vector Borne Disease Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam Kumar Masakapalli
- BioX Centre, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, Himachal Pradesh, India
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