Massoud Saidijam - Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Negin Khaksarimehr - School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani - Proteomics Research Center, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amir Taherkhani - Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Background: Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲), is a disorder with human-to-human rapid transmission. With several vaccines introduced, we need to find out the effectiveness of such medications in a short-period therapeutic procedure. The NTPase/helicase plays a key role in the replication of the viral RNA.Materials and Methods: We estimated the binding affinity of several natural polyphenolics, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, with the catalytic site of SARS-CoV-۲ helicase by molecular docking analysis using the AutoDock tool. The stability of connections between top-ranked components inside the catalytic site of the helicase was evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The most active residues within the catalytic site of the helicase were ranked based on their degree in a phenolic-residue interaction (PRI) network.Results: Amentoflavone, theaflavin ۳'-gallate, and procyanidin were estimated to be the most potential effective SARS-CoV-۲ helicase inhibitors with the salient inhibition constant value (Ki) at the picomolar scale. The docked pose of these compounds was also found to be stable after MD simulations. The binding energy of these compounds with the helicase catalytic site was estimated between −۱۳.۹۰ and −۱۲.۷۷ kcal/mol. Asp۵۳۴ and Leu۴۱۲ demonstrated more degrees in the PRI network compared to the other residues.Conclusion: The present study predicts that amentoflavone, theaflavin ۳'-gallate, and procyanidin might be helpful for the treatment of COVID-۱۹.

COVID-۱۹, Helicase, Inhibitor, Molecular docking, SARS-CoV-۲