Anti–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) targets and mechanisms of puerarin. Issue 2 (26th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Xingyue; Huang, Chen; Wu, Ka; Li, Yu; Liang, Xiao; Su, Min; Li, Rong
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. Volume 25:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 677
• Page End: 685
• Publication Date: 2020-11-26
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- molecular docking -- network pharmacology -- puerarin -- targets; Cytology; Medicine; Molecular Biology; Cytologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Cytology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 611.01805
• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1582-1838

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aimed to uncover the pharmacological function and underlying mechanism of puerarin as a potential treatment for COVID‐19, using an in silico methodology, including network pharmacology and molecular docking. The pivotal targets of puerarin to treat COVID‐19 were identified and included the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), tumour necrosis factor (TNF), tumour protein p53 (TP53), caspase 3 (CASP3), RELA proto‐oncogene (RELA), Fos proto‐oncogene (FOS), caspase 8 (CASP8), prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), interleukin 2 (IL2), protein kinase CB (PRKCB), B cell lymphoma/leukaemia gene‐2 (BCL2), protein kinase CA (PRKCA), nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma (PPARG). Functionally, the anti–COVID‐19 action of puerarin was associated with the suppression of oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades, and cell apoptosis. The signalling pathways of puerarin to treat COVID‐19 included modulation of the pathways of apoptosis, IL‐17 signalling, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling and TNF signalling. Molecular docking data illustrated the binding capacity of puerarin with COVID‐19 and the effective anti–COVID‐19 activity of puerarin. Taken together, our current network pharmacology–based findings revealed the pharmacological role of puerarin in the treatment of COVID‐19. Furthermore, the bioinformatic findings elucidated that some of these pivotal targets might serve as potential molecular markers for detecting COVID‐19.