Target-Based Virtual Screening and LC/MS-Guided Isolation Procedure for Identifying Phloroglucinol-Terpenoid Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2

J Nat Prod. 2022 Feb 25;85(2):327-336. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00805. Epub 2022 Jan 27.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to more than 5 million deaths worldwide to date. Due to the limited therapeutic options so far available, target-based virtual screening with LC/MS support was applied to identify the novel and high-content compounds 1-4 with inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells from the plant Dryopteris wallichiana. These compounds were also evaluated against SARS-CoV-2 in Calu-3 cells and showed unambiguous inhibitory activity. The inhibition assay of targets showed that compounds 3 and 4 mainly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, with effective Kd values. Through docking and molecular dynamics modeling, the binding site is described, providing a comprehensive understanding of 3CLpro and interactions for 3, including hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic bonds, and the spatial occupation of the B ring. Compounds 3 and 4 represent new, potential lead compounds for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. This study has led to the development of a target-based virtual screening method for exploring the potency of natural products and for identifying natural bioactive compounds for possible COVID-19 treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Dryopteris / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects*
  • Terpenes / pharmacology*
  • Virtual Reality

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Terpenes
  • Phloroglucinol