Target-based drug discovery, ADMET profiling and bioactivity studies of antibiotics as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M(pro))

A recent outbreak of a new strain of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health burden, which has resulted in deaths. No proven drug has been found to effectively cure this fast-spreading infection, hence the need to explore old drugs with the known profile in tackling this pandemic. A computer-aided drug design approach involving virtual screening was used to obtain the binding scores and inhibiting efficiencies of previously known antibiotics against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M(pro)). The drug-likeness analysis of the repurposed drugs were done using the Molinspiration chemoinformatics tool, while the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) analysis was carried out using ADMET SAR-2 webserver. Other analyses performed include bioactivities of the repurposed drug as a probable anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent and oral bioavailability analyses among others. The results were compared with those of drugs currently involved in clinical trials in the ongoing pandemic. Although antibiotics have been speculated to be of no use in the treatment of viral infections, literature has emerged lately to reveal the antiviral potential and immune-boosting ability of antibiotics. This study identified Tarivid and Ciprofloxacin with binding affinities of − 8.3 kcal/mol and − 8.1 kcal/mol, respectively as significant inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 (M(pro)) with better pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness and oral bioavailability, bioactivity properties, ADMET properties and inhibitory strength compared to Remdesivir (− 7.6 kcal/mol) and Azithromycin (− 6.3 kcal/mol). These observations will provide insight for further research (clinical trial) in the cure and management of COVID-19.