Abstract
Traditionally, Withania somnifera is widely used as an immune booster, anti-viral, and for multiple medicinal purposes. The present study investigated the withanolides as an immune booster and anti-viral agents against the coronavirus-19. Withanolides from Withania somnifera were retrieved from the open-source database, their targets were predicted using DIGEP-Pred, and the protein-protein interaction was evaluated. The drug-likeness score and intestinal absorptivity of each compound were also predicted. The network of compounds, proteins, and modulated pathways was constructed using Cytoscape, and docking was performed using autodock4.0, and selected protein-ligand complexes were subjected to 100 ns Molecular Dynamics simulations. The molecular dynamics trajectories were subjected to free energy calculation by the MM-GBSA method. Withanolide_Q was predicted to modulate the highest number of proteins, showed human intestinal absorption, and was predicted for the highest drug-likeness score. Similarly, combined network interaction identified Withanolide_Q to target the highest number of proteins; RAC1 was majorly targeted, and fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis associated pathway were chiefly regulated. Similarly, Withanolide_D and Withanolide_G were predicted to have a better binding affinity with PLpro, Withanolide_M with 3CLpro, and Withanolide_M with spike protein based on binding energy and number of hydrogen bond interactions. MD studies suggested Withanoside_I with the highest binding free energy (ΔGbind-31.56 kcal/mol) as the most promising inhibitor. Among multiple withanolides from W. somnifera, Withanolide_D, Withanolide_G, Withanolide_M, and Withanolide_Q were predicted as the lead hits based on drug-likeness score, modulated proteins, and docking score to boost the immune system and inhibit the COVID-19 infection, which could primarily act against COVID-19. Highlights Withanolides are immunity boosters. Withanolides are a group of bio-actives with potential anti-viral properties. Withanolide_G, Withanolide_I, and Withanolide_M from Withania somnifera showed the highest binding affinity with PLpro, 3CLpro, and spike protein, respectively. Withanolides from Withania somnifera holds promising anti-viral efficacy against COVID-19. Communicated by Vsevolod Makeev
Highlights
At present CoV Disease (COVID-19); a positive-sense RNA has spread throughout the world leading to deaths of millions of people [1] affecting the pulmonary gas exchange in the lungs
Combined network interaction identified withanolide Q to target the highest number of proteins; RAC1 was majorly modulated and regulating Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis as a majorly regulated pathway
Withanolide D and Withanolide G were predicted to have the better binding affinity with papain-like protease (PLpro), Withanolide M with 3clpro, and Withanolide M with spike protein based on binding energy and number of hydrogen bond interactions
Summary
At present CoV Disease (COVID-19); a positive-sense RNA has spread throughout the world leading to deaths of millions of people [1] affecting the pulmonary gas exchange in the lungs. It has been identified that subjects with the lower immune systems are at more risk factors to be affected by COVID-19 which is more prevalent in the pediatrics, geriatrics, and the subjects suffering from infectious and non-infectious diseases [2]. Much research is undergoing developing the vaccine against COVID-19, the process of identifying new drug molecules/vaccines is time-consuming. Many investigations are undergoing utilizing the multiple traditional folk medicines against COVID-19 [3,4,5]. Many academic researchers are reporting multiple phytoconstituents against COVID-19
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