In silico approach identified benzoylguanidines as SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^pro) potential inhibitors

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), became the highest public health crisis nowadays. Although the use of approved vaccines for emergency immunization and the reuse of FDA-approved drugs remains at the forefront, the search for new, more selective, and potent drug candidates from synthetic compounds is also a viable alternative to combat this viral disease. In this context, the present study employed a computational virtual screening approach based on molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to identify possible inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 M^pro (main protease), an important molecular target required for the maturation of the various polyproteins involved in viral replication. The virtual screening approach selected four potential inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. In addition, MD simulation studies revealed changes in the positions of the ligands during the simulations compared to the complex obtained in the molecular docking studies, showing the benzoylguanidines LMed-110 and LMed-136 have a higher affinity for the active site compared to the other structures that tended to leave the active site. Besides, there was a better understanding of the formation and stability of the existing H-bonds in the formed complexes and the energetic contributions to the stability of the target-ligand molecular complexes. Finally, the in silico prediction of the ADME profile suggested that LMed-136 has drug-like characteristics and good pharmacokinetic properties. Therefore, from the present study, it can be suggested that these structures can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 M^pro. Nevertheless, further studies are needed in vitro assays to investigate the antiviral properties of these structures against SARS-CoV-2.