Withanolides from Withania somnifera as an immune booster and their therapeutic option against COVID-19

Abstract Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the withanolides as an immune system booster and anti-viral agents against the coronavirus. Materials and Methods: Reported withanolides from Withinana somnifera were retrieved from the open-source database i.e. ChEBI, PCIDB and Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Their protein-based targets were predicted using DigepPred and the protein-protein interaction was evaluated using STRING. Similarly, the drug-likeness score of individual compounds was predicted using MolSoft and intestinal absorptivity was predicted using the boiled-egg model. The network among the compounds, proteins, and modulated pathways was constructed using Cytoscape and the docking was performed using autodock4.0. Results: Withanoloid Q was predicted to modulate the highest number of proteins, showed positive human intestinal absorption and had the highest druglikeness score. Similarly, combined network interaction identified withanolide Q to target the highest number of proteins; RAC1 was majorly modulated and regulating Fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis as a majorly regulated pathway. Similarly, Withanolide D and Withanolide G were predicted to have the better binding affinity with PLpro, Withanolide M with 3clpro, and Withanolide M with spike protein based on binding energy and number of hydrogen bond interactions. Conclusion: Among the multiple withanolides from Withania somnifera, withanolide-D, -G, -M, and -Q were predicted as a lead hit based on druglikeness score, modulated proteins, and docking score to boost immune system and inhibit the COVID infection.