Rutin: A Potential Antiviral for Repurposing as a SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) Inhibitor

Abstract

Various computational studies, including in silico ones, have identified several existing compounds that could serve as effective inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), and thus preventing replication of the virus. Among these, rutin has been identified as a potential hit, having prominent binding affinity to the virus. Moreover, its presence in several traditional antiviral medicines prescribed in China to infected patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 justify its promise as a repurposed bioactive secondary metabolite against SARS-CoV-2.