Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with Vitamin C, L-Arginine and a Vitamin C/L-Arginine Combination
Đukić et al.,
Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with Vitamin C, L-Arginine and a Vitamin C/L-Arginine Combination,
Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, doi:10.31083/j.fbl2801008 (In Vitro)
In Vitro study showing inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M
pro with vitamin C, L-arginine, and improved inhibition with the combination of both.
3 In Vitro studies support the efficacy of vitamin C
[Goc, Hajdrik, Đukić].
Đukić et al., 13 Jan 2023, peer-reviewed, 9 authors.
Contact:
sanja@vinca.rs (corresponding author).
In Vitro studies are an important part of preclinical research, however results may be very different in vivo.
Abstract: Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2023; 28(1): 8
https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2801008
Original Research
Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with Vitamin C, L-Arginine and a
Vitamin C/L-Arginine Combination
Ivana Đukić1 , Nevena Kaličanin2 , Milan Sencanski3 , Snezana B. Pajovic4 , Jelena Milicevic3 ,
Jelena Prljic3 , Slobodan Paessler5,6 , Radivoje Prodanović1 , Sanja Glisic3, *
1 University of Belgrade-Faculty of Chemistry, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
2 University of Belgrade-Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
3 Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia,
University of Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
4 Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of
Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
5 Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
6 Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
*Correspondence: sanja@vinca.rs (Sanja Glisic)
Academic Editor: Paramjit S. Tappia
Submitted: 20 October 2022 Revised: 7 December 2022 Accepted: 23 December 2022 Published: 13 January 2023
Abstract
Background: Drug resistance is a critical problem in health care that affects therapy outcomes and requires new approaches to drug
design. SARS-CoV-2 Mpro mutations are of concern as they can potentially reduce therapeutic efficacy. Viral infections are amongst the
many disorders for which nutraceuticals have been employed as an adjunct therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the potential
in vitro activity of L-arginine and vitamin C against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro . Methods: The Mpro inhibition assay was developed by cloning,
expression, purification, and characterization of Mpro . Selected compounds were then screened for protease inhibition. Results: Larginine was found to be active against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro , while a vitamin C/L-arginine combination had a synergistic antiviral action
against Mpro . These findings confirm the results of our previous in silico repurposing study that showed L-arginine and vitamin C were
potential Mpro inhibitors. Moreover, they suggest a possible molecular mechanism to explain the beneficial effect of arginine in COVID
patients. Conclusions: The findings of the current study are important because they help to identify COVID-19 treatments that are
efficient, inexpensive, and have a favorable safety profile. The results of this study also suggest a possible adjuvant nutritional strategy
for COVID-19 that could be used in conjunction with pharmacological agents.
Keywords: anti SARS-CoV-2; Mpro ; COVID-19; arginine; vitamin C/arginine combination; Mpro candidate inhibitors
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