scholarly journals Natural Products, Alone or in Combination with FDA-Approved Drugs, to Treat COVID-19 and Lung Cancer

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 689
Author(s):  
Liyan Yang ◽  
Zhonglei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Combination Drug ◽  
Ginkgolic Acid ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Economic Development ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

As a public health emergency of international concern, the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been identified as a severe threat to the lives of billions of individuals. Lung cancer, a malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate, has brought significant challenges to both human health and economic development. Natural products may play a pivotal role in treating lung diseases. We reviewed published studies relating to natural products, used alone or in combination with US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, active against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and lung cancer from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2021. A wide range of natural products can be considered promising anti-COVID-19 or anti-lung cancer agents have gained widespread attention, including natural products as monotherapy for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (ginkgolic acid, shiraiachrome A, resveratrol, and baicalein) or lung cancer (daurisoline, graveospene A, deguelin, and erianin) or in combination with FDA-approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents (cepharanthine plus nelfinavir, linoleic acid plus remdesivir) and anti-lung cancer agents (curcumin and cisplatin, celastrol and gefitinib). Natural products have demonstrated potential value and with the assistance of nanotechnology, combination drug therapies, and the codrug strategy, this “natural remedy” could serve as a starting point for further drug development in treating these lung diseases.

scholarly journals Thiazole Ring—A Biologically Active Scaffold

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3166
Author(s):  
Anthi Petrou ◽  
Maria Fesatidou ◽  
Athina Geronikaki
Keyword(s):  
Recent Literature ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Literature Survey ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Thiazole Ring ◽  
Peer Reviews ◽  
Experimental Drugs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

Background: Thiazole is a good pharmacophore nucleus due to its various pharmaceutical applications. Its derivatives have a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial including antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, anticancer, antiallergic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antipsychotic. Indeed, the thiazole scaffold is contained in more than 18 FDA-approved drugs as well as in numerous experimental drugs. Objective: To summarize recent literature on the biological activities of thiazole ring-containing compounds Methods: A literature survey regarding the topics from the year 2015 up to now was carried out. Older publications were not included, since they were previously analyzed in available peer reviews. Results: Nearly 124 research articles were found, critically analyzed, and arranged regarding the synthesis and biological activities of thiazoles derivatives in the last 5 years.

scholarly journals High Throughput Virtual Screening to Discover Inhibitors of the Main Protease of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 3193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olujide O. Olubiyi ◽  
Maryam Olagunju ◽  
Monika Keutmann ◽  
Jennifer Loschwitz ◽  
Birgit Strodel
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Enzyme Dynamics ◽  
Hydrogen Bond Formation ◽  
Protease Enzyme ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Approved Drugs

We use state-of-the-art computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques to identify prospective inhibitors of the main protease enzyme, 3CLpro of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19. From our screening of over one million compounds including approved drugs, investigational drugs, natural products, and organic compounds, and a rescreening protocol incorporating enzyme dynamics via ensemble docking, we have been able to identify a range of prospective 3CLpro inhibitors. Importantly, some of the identified compounds had previously been reported to exhibit inhibitory activities against the 3CLpro enzyme of the closely related SARS-CoV virus. The top-ranking compounds are characterized by the presence of multiple bi- and monocyclic rings, many of them being heterocycles and aromatic, which are flexibly linked allowing the ligands to adapt to the geometry of the 3CLpro substrate site and involve a high amount of functional groups enabling hydrogen bond formation with surrounding amino acid residues, including the catalytic dyad residues H41 and C145. Among the top binding compounds we identified several tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which include a bioflavonoid, the group of natural products that binds best to 3CLpro. Another class of compounds that decently binds to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease are steroid hormones, which thus may be endogenous inhibitors and might provide an explanation for the age-dependent severity of COVID-19. Many of the compounds identified by our work show a considerably stronger binding than found for reference compounds with in vitro demonstrated 3CLpro inhibition and anticoronavirus activity. The compounds determined in this work thus represent a good starting point for the design of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication.

An analysis of FDA-approved drugs: natural products and their derivatives

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Patridge ◽  
Peter Gareiss ◽  
Michael S. Kinch ◽  
Denton Hoyer
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

Identification of FDA Approved Drugs Targeting COVID-19 Virus by Structure-Based Drug Repositioning (Version 2)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Farag ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Mahmoud Ahmed ◽  
Hesham Sadek
Keyword(s):  
Drug Repositioning ◽  
Substrate Binding ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Substrate Binding Pocket ◽  
Protease Enzyme ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

The new strain of Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2), and the resulting Covid-19 disease has spread swiftly across the globe after its initial detection in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, resulting in a pandemic status declaration by WHO within 3 months. Given the heavy toll of this pandemic, researchers are actively testing various strategies including new and repurposed drugs as well as vaccines. In the current brief report, we adopted a repositioning approach using insilico molecular modeling screening using FDA approved drugs with established safety profiles for potential inhibitory effects on Covid-19 virus. We started with structure based drug design by screening more than 2000 FDA approved drugs against Covid-19 virus main protease enzyme (Mpro) substrate-binding pocket focusing on two potential sites (central and terminal sites) to identify potential hits based on their binding energies, binding modes, interacting amino acids, and therapeutic indications. In addition, we elucidate preliminary pharmacophore features for candidates bound to Covid-19 virus Mpro substrate-binding pocket. The top hits bound to the central site of Mpro substrate-binding pocket include antiviral drugs such as Darunavir, Nelfinavir and Saquinavir, some of which are already being tested in Covid-19 patients. Interestingly, one of the most promising hits in our screen is the hypercholesterolemia drug Rosuvastatin. In addition, the top hits bound to the terminal site of Mpro substrate-binding pocket include the anti-asthma drug Montelukast and the anti-histaminic Fexofenadine among others. These results certainly do not confirm or indicate antiviral activity, but can rather be used as a starting point for further in vitro and in vivo testing, either individually or in combination.<br>

Phytochemicals as Potential Curative Agents against Viral Infection: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
pp. 2356-2366
Author(s):  
Abhijeet Kumar ◽  
Anil Kumar Singh ◽  
Garima Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Current Health ◽  
Antiviral Activities ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Novel Drug ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs ◽  
New Chemical Entity

The present pandemic erupted due to highly contagious coronavirus SARS-CoV- 2, and lack of any efficient therapy to restrain its infection and treatment, led the scientific community to re-evaluate the efficacy of commonly available phytochemicals as potential therapeutic agents. The vast pharmacological activities and medicinal significance of the plant-derived natural products against a diverse range of physiological disorders and diseases are well documented. Under the current health emergency across the world, there is an urgent requirement of repurposing of the available FDA approved drugs and natural products which could help in controlling the infections and alleviating the severity of the diseases as discovering entirely new chemical entity as a novel drug would be a protracted and costly journey. Some of the phytochemicals have already displayed potential anti-viral activity against different targets of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present review would provide an account of the prevalent phytochemicals with antiviral activities, which would help in the development of promising drug therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 and similar such highly infectious viruses.

scholarly journals Ensemble-based screening of natural products and FDA-approved drugs identified potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 that work with two distinct mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 107871
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Shadrack ◽  
Geradius Deogratias ◽  
Lucy W. Kiruri ◽  
Hulda S. Swai ◽  
John-Mary Vianney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

scholarly journals Identification of FDA Approved Drugs Targeting COVID-19 Virus by Structure-Based Drug Repositioning

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Farag ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Mahmoud Ahmed ◽  
Hesham Sadek
Keyword(s):  
Drug Repositioning ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Structure Based Drug Design ◽  
Protease Enzyme ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

<div>The new strain of Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2), and the resulting Covid-19 disease has spread swiftly across the globe after its initial detection in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, resulting in a pandemic status declaration by WHO within 3 months. Given the heavy toll of this pandemic, researchers are actively testing various strategies including new and repurposed drugs as well as vaccines. In the current brief report, we adopted a repositioning approach using insilico molecular modeling screening using FDA approved drugs with established safety profiles for potential inhibitory effects on Covid-19 virus. We started with structure based drug design by screening more than 2000 FDA approved drugs</div><div>against Covid-19 virus main protease enzyme (Mpro) substrate-binding pocket to identify potential hits based on their binding energies, binding modes, interacting amino acids, and therapeutic indications. In addition, we elucidate preliminary pharmacophore features for candidates bound to Covid-19 virus Mpro substratebinding pocket. The top hits include anti-viral drugs such as Darunavir, Nelfinavirand Saquinavir, some of which are already being tested in Covid-19 patients. Interestingly, one of the most promising hits in our screen is the hypercholesterolemia drug Rosuvastatin. These results certainly do not confirm or indicate antiviral activity, but can rather be used as a starting point for further in vitro and in vivo testing, either individually or in combination.</div>

scholarly journals High Throughput Virtual Screening to Discover Inhibitors of the Main Protease of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olujide O. Olubiyi ◽  
Maryam Olagunju ◽  
Monika Keutmann ◽  
Jennifer Loschwitz ◽  
Birgit Strodel
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Enzyme Dynamics ◽  
Hydrogen Bond Formation ◽  
Protease Enzyme ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Approved Drugs

We use state-of-the-art computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques to identify prospective inhibitors of the main protease enzyme, 3CLpro of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19. From our screening of over one million compounds including approved drugs, investigational drugs, natural products, and organic compounds, and a rescreening protocol incorporating enzyme dynamics via ensemble docking, we have been able to identify a range of prospective 3CLpro inhibitors. Importantly, some of the identified compounds had previously been reported to exhibit inhibitory activities against the 3CLpro enzyme of the closely related SARS-CoV virus. The top- ranking compounds are characterized by the presence of multiple bi- and monocyclic rings, many of them being heterocycles and aromatic, which are flexibly linked allowing the ligands to adapt to the geometry of the 3CLpro substrate site and involve a high amount of functional groups enabling hydrogen bond formation with surrounding amino acid residues, including the catalytic dyad residues H41 and C145. Among the top binding compounds we identified several tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which include a bioflavonoid, the group of natural products that binds best to 3CLpro. Another class of compounds that decently binds to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease are steroid hormones, which thus may be endogenous inhibitors and might provide an explanation for the age-dependent severity of COVID-19. Many of the compounds identified by our work show a considerably stronger binding than found for reference compounds with in vitro demonstrated 3CLpro inhibition and anticoronavirus activity. The compounds determined in this work thus represent a good starting point for the design of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication.

scholarly journals Identification of Atovaquone, Ouabain and Mebendazole as FDA Approved Drugs Tar-geting SARS-CoV-2 (Version 4)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Farag ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Ian N. Boys ◽  
Jennifer L. Eitson ◽  
Maikke B. Ohlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Covalent Binding ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Structure Based Drug Design ◽  
Protease Enzyme ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs

<p>The newly emerged coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the resulting COVID-19 disease, has spread swiftly across the globe since its initial detection in December 2019. Given the heavy toll of this pandemic, therapeutic options for treatment are urgently needed. Here, we adopted a repositioning approach using in-silico molecular modeling to screen FDA-approved drugs with established safety profiles for potential inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2. We used structure-based drug design to screen more than 2000 FDA approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme (Mpro) substrate-binding pocket, focusing on two potential sites (central and terminal sites) to identify hits based on their binding energies, binding modes, interacting amino acids, and therapeutic indications. We additionally screened the top hits from both sites for potential covalent binding via nucleophilic thiol attack of Cys 145. High-scoring candidates were then screened for antiviral activity against infectious SARS-CoV-2 in a cell-based viral replication assay, and counterscreened for toxicity. Atovaquone, Mebendazole, and Ouabain exhibited antiviral efficacy with IC50s well within their respective therapeutic plasma concentrations (low nanomolar to low micromolar range), and limited toxic effects. Notably, all three were predicted in docking studies to covalently bind SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, underscoring the utility of this in-silico approach for identifying putative antivirals for repurposing. These results do not confirm efficacy in animal models or in humans, but rather serve as a starting point for testing the antiviral potential of select FDA-approved drugs, either individually or in combination.<br></p>

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