In Silico Study of Phenolic Compounds from Honey as Mpro SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitor Candidates

SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global COVID-19 pandemic since late 2019 and the reported cases have not ended until now. One way to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic is to find the main viral protease inhibitor (Mpro) SARS-CoV-2 which is a key enzyme of virus replication. Honey is a bee-derived product that contains various phenolic compounds and has antiviral activity. This study aimed to find candidate Mpro SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors from honey phenolic compounds using molecular docking simulations in a directed manner. A total of 27 test ligands (from honey's phenolic compounds), 4 comparison ligands (from synthetic antiviral compounds), and reference ligands (N3 compound) were screened for their character as drug compounds by Lipinski's rules and for their toxicity by admetSAR. All ligands were docked to the Mpro SARS-CoV-2 receptor code 7BQY using AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 and Autodock Vina with center of coordinates: X = 10,398; Y = -1,254; Z = 23.473 and grid size: X = 40; Y = 46; Z = 40. Molecular docking simulation produces affinity energy and molecular interactions data. The results showed that the best candidate for Mpro SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor from honey's phenolic compounds was genistein because it complied with all Lipinski rules, was non-toxigenic, not a carcinogen, had an affinity energy of -7.6 kCal/mol, 80% similarity to the reference ligand N3, and occupies 63,64% of the tether coverage area. The results of this study are expected to be used in further research, both in vitro and in vivo.