Synthesis and molecular docking study of novel COVID-19 inhibitors (original) (raw)

2021, Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Introduction The most interested subject in 2020 is corona virus disease, which was named as COVID-19 by the WHO (World Health Organization) on the February 11, 2020 [1], This novel coronavirus is called as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the international virus classification commission. Viruses in the corona family cause diseases in respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and central nervous system in both humans and animals [2]. Due to the respiratory transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from person to person, it has led to the formation of pandemic conditions in a short time. The world has become familiar with corona virus first with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic, and then with the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic [3]. The cause of pneumonia in COVID-19 cases is revealed as unique b-CoV strain [4]. The scientific world does not have an approved treatment specific to SARS-CoV-2. Luckily, it was shown that the novel b-CoV shows 88% similarity to the (SARS)-like coronaviruses, and about 50% to the MERS CoV. Therefore, drugs used for SARS and MERS have come forth again [5]. There are many potential drug candidates for the treatment of COVID-19 such as, oseltamivir [2], lopinavir/ ritonavir [6, 7], nucleoside analogues and nucleotide inhibitors [8] remdesivir [6, 9], tenofovir, ribavirin, sofosbuvir, galidesivir [10] antibiotics [11] and chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine [12,13]. Alternatively, various phytochemicals were used against SARS-CoV-2 virus too. Examples are, belachinal, macaflavanone E and vibsanol B [14], flavone and coumarine derivatives [15], saikosaponins [16], crocin, digitoxigenin, and ß-eudesmol [17], d-viniferin, myricitrin, Taiwan homoflavone A, lactucopicrin 15-oxalate, nymfolide A, afzelin, biorobin, hesperidin and phyllaemblicin B [18], and theophylline derivatives [19]. Hydroxychloroquine, which is mainly used for the treatment of malaria [20] was the first drug to be considered suitable for use in the treatment of COVID-19. On 17 June 2020, WHO announced that the research examining the effects of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 was cancelled. It has been reported that the drug does not have a positive effect on the mortality rate and duration of hospital stay compared to standard treatments [21]. On July 1, 2020 FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a warning stating that hydroxychloroquine causes heart rhythm problems, blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure [22]. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that block viral RNA synthesis of RNA viruses such as SARS and MERS. The antiviral efficacy of the drug has been proven in many in vitro studies [23, 24]. However, it has not been approved for the COVID-19 treatment yet. As the emergency situation continues, FDA has issued an authorization on the use of the drug on hospitalized patients receiving COVID-19 treatment [22].