Frontiers in Chemistry (Jan 2021)

Evaluation of Annona muricata Acetogenins as Potential Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agents Through Computational Approaches

  • Shashanka K. Prasad,
  • Sushma Pradeep,
  • Chandan Shimavallu,
  • Shiva Prasad Kollur,
  • Asad Syed,
  • Najat Marraiki,
  • Chukwuebuka Egbuna,
  • Chukwuebuka Egbuna,
  • Chukwuebuka Egbuna,
  • Mihnea-Alexandru Gaman,
  • Mihnea-Alexandru Gaman,
  • Olga Kosakowska,
  • William C. Cho,
  • Kingsley Chukwuemeka Patrick-Iwuanyanwu,
  • Kingsley Chukwuemeka Patrick-Iwuanyanwu,
  • Joaquín Ortega Castro,
  • Juan Frau,
  • Norma Flores-Holguín,
  • Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.624716
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Annona muricata, a tropical plant which has been extensively used in ethnomedicine to treat a wide range of diseases, from malaria to cancer. Interestingly, this plant has been reported to demonstrate significant antiviral properties against the human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, hepatitis C virus and dengue virus. Additionally, the bioactive compounds responsible for antiviral efficacy have also shown to be selectively cytotoxic while inhibiting tumorigenic cell growth without affecting the normal cell growth. Annonaceous Acetogenins are a class of bioactive compounds exclusive to the Annonaceae family at which the plant A. muricata belongs. In the current study, we have created a library of Acetogenins unique to the plant, comprising of Annomuricin A, Annomuricin B, Annomuricin C, Muricatocin C, Muricatacin, cis-Annonacin, Annonacin-10-one, cis-Goniothalamicin, Arianacin and Javoricin, for in silico and theoretical evaluations against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in an attempt toward promotion of plant based drug development for the current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We found that all the Acetogenins showing in silico spike protein significantly docking with good binding affinities. Moreover, we envision A. muricata Acetogenins can be further studied by in vitro and in vivo models to identify potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents.

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