Investigating the Potential Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Anti-MERS-CoV Activities of Yellow Necklacepod among Three Selected Medicinal Plants: Extraction, Isolation, Identification, In Vitro, Modes of Action, and Molecular Docking Studies
Howaida I. Abd-Alla,
Omnia Kutkat,
Heba-tollah M. Sweelam,
Wagdy M. Eldehna,
Marwa A. Mostafa,
Magda T. Ibrahim,
Yassmin Moatasim,
Mohamed GabAllah,
Ahmed A. Al-Karmalawy
Affiliations
Howaida I. Abd-Alla
Chemistry of Natural Compounds Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki-Giza 12622, Egypt
Omnia Kutkat
The Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Water Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki-Giza 12622, Egypt
Heba-tollah M. Sweelam
Chemistry of Natural Compounds Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki-Giza 12622, Egypt
Wagdy M. Eldehna
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
Marwa A. Mostafa
Bab El-Shaariya Hospital, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11558, Egypt
Magda T. Ibrahim
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11754, Egypt
Yassmin Moatasim
The Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Water Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki-Giza 12622, Egypt
Mohamed GabAllah
The Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, Water Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki-Giza 12622, Egypt
Ahmed A. Al-Karmalawy
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza 12566, Egypt
The anti-MERS-CoV activities of three medicinal plants (Azadirachta indica, Artemisia judaica, and Sophora tomentosa) were evaluated. The highest viral inhibition percentage (96%) was recorded for S. tomentosa. Moreover, the mode of action for both S. tomentosa and A. judaica showed 99.5% and 92% inhibition, respectively, with virucidal as the main mode of action. Furthermore, the anti-MERS-CoV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities of S. tomentosa were measured. Notably, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of S. tomentosa was very high (100%) and anti-MERS-CoV inhibition was slightly lower (96%). Therefore, the phytochemical investigation of the very promising S. tomentosa L. led to the isolation and structural identification of nine compounds (1–9). Then, both the CC50 and IC50 values for the isolated compounds against SARS-CoV-2 were measured. Compound 4 (genistein 4’-methyl ether) achieved superior anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with an IC50 value of 2.13 µm. Interestingly, the mode of action of S. tomentosa against SARS-CoV-2 showed that both virucidal and adsorption mechanisms were very effective. Additionally, the IC50 values of S. tomentosa against SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV were found to be 1.01 and 3.11 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, all the isolated compounds were subjected to two separate molecular docking studies against the spike (S) and main protease (Mpr°) receptors of SARS-CoV-2.
