Integrative Biology Journals

Natural Products and Bioprospecting ›› 2021, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (6): 611-628.DOI: 10.1007/s13659-021-00317-w

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Natural Products as Potential Lead Compounds for Drug Discovery Against SARS-CoV-2

Oyere Tanyi Ebob1, Smith B. Babiaka1, Fidele Ntie-Kang1,2   

  1. 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon;
    2 Institute for Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str.;
    3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
  • Received:2021-07-30 Online:2021-12-10 Published:2021-12-24
  • Contact: Fidele Ntie-Kang, Oyere Tanyi Ebob, Smith B. Babiaka

Natural Products as Potential Lead Compounds for Drug Discovery Against SARS-CoV-2

Oyere Tanyi Ebob1, Smith B. Babiaka1, Fidele Ntie-Kang1,2   

  1. 1 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P. O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon;
    2 Institute for Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str.;
    3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
  • 通讯作者: Fidele Ntie-Kang, Oyere Tanyi Ebob, Smith B. Babiaka

Abstract: For the past 2 years, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 infection has become a world pandemic, ruining the lives and economies of several nations in the world. This has scaled up research on the virus and the resulting infection with the goal of developing new vaccines and therapies. Natural products are known to be a rich source of lead compounds for drug discovery, including against infectious diseases caused by microbes (viruses, bacteria and fungi). In this review article, we conducted a literature survey aimed at identifying natural products with inhibitory concentrations against the coronaviruses or their target proteins, which lie below 10 μM. This led to the identification of 42 compounds belonging to the alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, phenolic, xanthone and saponin classes. The cut off concentration of 10 μM was to limit the study to the most potent chemical entities, which could be developed into therapies against the viral infection to make a contribution towards limiting the spread of the disease.

Key words: Antivirals, Drug discovery, Inhibitors, Lead compounds, Natural products, SARS-CoV-2

摘要: For the past 2 years, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 infection has become a world pandemic, ruining the lives and economies of several nations in the world. This has scaled up research on the virus and the resulting infection with the goal of developing new vaccines and therapies. Natural products are known to be a rich source of lead compounds for drug discovery, including against infectious diseases caused by microbes (viruses, bacteria and fungi). In this review article, we conducted a literature survey aimed at identifying natural products with inhibitory concentrations against the coronaviruses or their target proteins, which lie below 10 μM. This led to the identification of 42 compounds belonging to the alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, phenolic, xanthone and saponin classes. The cut off concentration of 10 μM was to limit the study to the most potent chemical entities, which could be developed into therapies against the viral infection to make a contribution towards limiting the spread of the disease.

关键词: Antivirals, Drug discovery, Inhibitors, Lead compounds, Natural products, SARS-CoV-2