Flavonoids as potential inhibitors of dengue virus 2 (DENV2) envelope protein

Abstract

Context: Dengue viruses (DENVs) are the cause of dengue disease, which is one of the most frequent diseases caused by mosquito-borne viral infections. Currently, no specific treatment is available for dengue. Aims: To identify the most promising inhibitors of dengue virus 2 (DENV2) envelope protein of DENV2 envelope protein from flavonoids compounds through computational methods. Methods: Structures of 54 flavonoids were collected, then the compounds were screened based on Lipinski's rules, and there were only 34 compounds that passed the screening. Then QSAR analysis was performed, followed by molecular docking analysis, ADMET evaluation, and molecular dynamics simulations to assess the stability of the protein. Results: Based on the QSAR analysis, only 32 compounds were subjected to molecular docking analysis. Silymarin had the highest docking score, while juglanin had the lowest ACE score compared to positive controls. The ADMET evaluation showed silymarin and juglanin had good absorption and could not penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In contrast to silymarin which had negative results for the Ames test, carcinogenicity, skin sensitization, and eye irritation, juglanin was positive for Ames test and skin sensitization. Even though the molecular dynamic simulation of both ligands with DENV2 envelope protein showed unstable confirmation, it did not necessarily mean that the ligands cannot be used as inhibitors since the molecular docking results provide evidence of the ligands binding to the DENV2 envelope protein. Conclusions: Based on the favorable results of QSAR analysis, molecular docking, and ADMET evaluation, juglanin and silymarin were chosen as the candidate with the most potential for DENV2 envelope protein inhibitors. However, further analyses such as in vitro and in vivo analyses are necessary to validate the result of this study.