Phycobilins as potent food bioactive broad-spectrum inhibitor compounds against Mpro and PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses: A preliminary Study

Abstract

In the twenty first century, we have witnessed three corona virus outbreaks; SARS in 2003, MERS in 2012 and ongoing pandemic COVID-19. To prevent outbreaks by novel mutant strains, we need broad-spectrum antiviral agents that are effective against wide array of coronaviruses. In this study, we scientifically investigated potent food bioactive broad-spectrum antiviral compounds by targeting Mpro and PLpro proteases of CoVs using in silico and in vitro approaches. The results revealed that phycocyanobilin (PCB) showed potential inhibitor activity against both proteases. PCB had best binding affinity to Mpro and PLpro with IC50 values of 71 m and 62 m, respectively. In addition, in silico studies of Mpro and PLpro enzymes of other human and animal CoVs indicated broad spectrum inhibitor activity of the PCB. Like PCB, other phycobilins such as phycourobilin (PUB), Phycoerythrobilin (PEB) and Phycoviolobilin (PVB) showed similar binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and PLpro