Coumarins and Quinolones as Effective Multiple Targeted Agents Versus Covid-19: An In Silico Study.

BACKGROUND

The Covid-19 virus emerged a few months ago in China, and infections rapidly escalated into a pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

To date, there is no selective antiviral agent for the management of pathologies associated with covid-19 and the need for an effective agent against it is essential.

METHODS

In this work, two home-made databases from synthetic quinolines and coumarins were virtually docked against viral proteases (3CL and PL), human cell surface proteases (TMPRSS2 and furin) and spike proteins (S1 and S2). Chloroquine, a reference drug without a clear mechanism against coronavirus was also docked on mentioned targets and the binding affinities compared with title compounds.

RESULTS

The best compounds of synthetic coumarins and quinolines for each target were determined. All compounds against all targets showed binding affinity between -5.80 to -8.99 kcal/mol in comparison with the FDA-approved drug, Chloroquine, with binding affinity of -5.7 to -7.98 kcal/mol. Two compounds, quinoline-1 and coumarin-24, were found to be effective on three targets - S2, TMPRSS2 and furin - simultaneously, with good predicted affinity between -7.54 to -8.85 kcal/mol. In silico ADME studies also confirmed good oral absorption for them. Furthermore, PASS prediction was calculated and coumarin-24 had higher probable activity (Pa) than probable inactivity (Pi) with acceptable protease inhibitory as well as good antiviral activity against Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and influenza.

CONCLUSION

Quinoline-1 and Coumarin-24 have the potential to be used against Covid-19. Hence these agents could be useful in combating covid-19 infection after further in vitro and in vivo studies.