In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.

Dengue poses a persistent and widespread threat with no effective antiviral drug available till now. Several inhibitors have been developed by targeting the viral non-structural proteins including methyl transferase (NS5) of the dengue virus with possible therapeutic values. In this work, virtual sc...

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Main Authors: Anuraj Phunyal, Achyut Adhikari, Jhashanath Adhikari Subin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301747
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author Anuraj Phunyal
Achyut Adhikari
Jhashanath Adhikari Subin
author_facet Anuraj Phunyal
Achyut Adhikari
Jhashanath Adhikari Subin
author_sort Anuraj Phunyal
collection DOAJ
description Dengue poses a persistent and widespread threat with no effective antiviral drug available till now. Several inhibitors have been developed by targeting the viral non-structural proteins including methyl transferase (NS5) of the dengue virus with possible therapeutic values. In this work, virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (200 ns), and assessments of free energy changes have been carried out to identify potential candidates from a database of flavonoids (ca. 2000) that may have good curative potential from the disease. The binding affinity of flavonoids, namely Genistein-7-glucoside (FLD1), 6'-O-Acetylgenistin (FLD2), 5,6-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one (FLD3), Glucoliquiritigenin (FLD4), and Chrysin-7-O-glucoronide (FLD5) showed the binding affinities of -10.2, -10.2, -10.1, -10.1, -9.9 kcal/mol, respectively, and possessed better values than that of the native ligand (-7.6 kcal/mol) and diclofenac sodium (-7.3 kcal/mol). Drug-likeness of the top five flavonoids were acceptable and no end-point toxicity was hinted by ADMET predictions. The stability of the protein-ligand complexes was accessed from 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations in terms of various geometrical parameters; RMSD, RMSF of residues, Rg, SASA, H-bond, and RPDF. The binding free energy changes of these adducts were calculated by the MM/PBSA solvation model with negative values (from -38.01±7.53 to -17.75±11.03 kcal/mol) indicating the sustained spontaneity of the forward reaction and favorability of the product formation. The geometrical and thermodynamic parameters inferred that the flavonoids could bind at the orthosteric site of the target protein of DENV-2 and could inhibit its functioning, possibly, resulting in the prevention of the disease. Overall, this study highlights the anti-DENV activity of five flavonoids, positioning them as promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents against dengue infection.
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spelling doaj-art-e8ca502c40e84b7db98b7611bc24df5c2024-12-17T05:31:50ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e030174710.1371/journal.pone.0301747In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.Anuraj PhunyalAchyut AdhikariJhashanath Adhikari SubinDengue poses a persistent and widespread threat with no effective antiviral drug available till now. Several inhibitors have been developed by targeting the viral non-structural proteins including methyl transferase (NS5) of the dengue virus with possible therapeutic values. In this work, virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (200 ns), and assessments of free energy changes have been carried out to identify potential candidates from a database of flavonoids (ca. 2000) that may have good curative potential from the disease. The binding affinity of flavonoids, namely Genistein-7-glucoside (FLD1), 6'-O-Acetylgenistin (FLD2), 5,6-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one (FLD3), Glucoliquiritigenin (FLD4), and Chrysin-7-O-glucoronide (FLD5) showed the binding affinities of -10.2, -10.2, -10.1, -10.1, -9.9 kcal/mol, respectively, and possessed better values than that of the native ligand (-7.6 kcal/mol) and diclofenac sodium (-7.3 kcal/mol). Drug-likeness of the top five flavonoids were acceptable and no end-point toxicity was hinted by ADMET predictions. The stability of the protein-ligand complexes was accessed from 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations in terms of various geometrical parameters; RMSD, RMSF of residues, Rg, SASA, H-bond, and RPDF. The binding free energy changes of these adducts were calculated by the MM/PBSA solvation model with negative values (from -38.01±7.53 to -17.75±11.03 kcal/mol) indicating the sustained spontaneity of the forward reaction and favorability of the product formation. The geometrical and thermodynamic parameters inferred that the flavonoids could bind at the orthosteric site of the target protein of DENV-2 and could inhibit its functioning, possibly, resulting in the prevention of the disease. Overall, this study highlights the anti-DENV activity of five flavonoids, positioning them as promising candidates for further development as antiviral agents against dengue infection.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301747
spellingShingle Anuraj Phunyal
Achyut Adhikari
Jhashanath Adhikari Subin
In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
PLoS ONE
title In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
title_full In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
title_fullStr In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
title_full_unstemmed In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
title_short In silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics.
title_sort in silico exploration of potent flavonoids for dengue therapeutics
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301747
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