Repurposing of anisomycin and oleandomycin as a potential anti-(SARS-CoV-2) virus targeting key enzymes using virtual computational approaches

Abstract

Despite the accelerated emerging of vaccines, development against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) drugs discovery is still in demand. Repurposing the existing drugs is an ideal time/cost-effective strategy to tackle the clinical impact of SARS CoV–2. Thereby, the present study is a promising strategy that proposes the repurposing of approved drugs against pivotal proteins that are responsible for the viral propagation of SARS-CoV-2 virus Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2; 2AJF), 3CL-protease: main protease (6LU7), Papain-like protease (6W9C), Receptor Binding Domain of Spike protein (6VW1), Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS-2; 5AFW) and Furin (5MIM) by in silico methods. Molecular docking results were analyzed based on the binding energy and active site interactions accomplished with pharmacokinetic analysis. It was observed that both anisomycin and oleandomycin bind to all selected target proteins with good binding energy, achieving the most favorable interactions. Considering the results of binding affinity, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of anisomycin and oleandomycin, it is proposed that they can act as potential drugs against the SARS CoV–2 infection. Further clinical testing of the reported drugs is essential for their use in the treatment of SARS CoV–2 infection.