In silico Molecular Docking Analysis Reveals Successful Protein Ligand Interaction between Druggable Bioactives from Ginger and RNA Dependent RNA Polymerase (EC 2.7.7.48) of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant

Abstract

India is well known for its resources of medicinal plants and their application in different diseases. Though costly, herbal drugs may be used in addition with synthetic drugs to increase the effectivity of the therapy. In 21st century the world had experienced the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. The battle is still on against this deadly virus as more variants are yet to come. Though we have developed some immunity, still researches are going on to combat the viruses with newer combinations of drugs with less side effects. Moreover, targeting a conserved essential protein of the virus with a drug is more acceptable to the community of medical practitioners, as it will minimize the range of drugs to be administered against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we have selected the delta variant of the virus due to its most detrimental record on human health. We have tried to establish the structural similarity of RNA dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant with the wild type one and then established the in silico interaction of bioactives from ginger on the ligand binding pockets of concerned protein, as a first step to design herbal drugs against this deadly virus.

Keywords

• homology modelling
• herbal drug
• medicinal plant
• [6]-dehydrogingerdione
• gingerenone