Aim: To investigate the prospective anti COVID-19 activity of Egyptian propolis. Material & methods: Propolis samples were collected from different Egyptian geographical areas and characterized using standardized methods, scanning electron microscope and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry along with computational modeling to predict the anti-COVID-19 activity. Results & conclusion: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of Menoufia propolis proved the presence of Octatriacontyl pentafluoropropionate (4.2%). Docking analyses declared that Octatriacontyl pentafluoropropionate is well oriented inside the enzyme pockets, in addition to excellent binding manner with the active site of the target macromolecules (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, Spike protein S1 and main protease) in relation to some broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Menoufia propolis could be a promising candidate in the combat against the pandemic COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a pandemic fatal infection with no known treatment. The severity of the disease and the fast viral mutations forced the scientific community to search for potential solution. Here in the present manuscript, some benzofused1,2,3triazolesulfonamide hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their anti- SARS-CoV-2 activity using in silico prediction then the most potent compounds were assessed using in-Vitro analysis. The in-Silico study was assessed against RNA dependent RNA polymerase, Spike protein S1, Main protease (3CLpro) and 2'-O-methyltransferase (nsp16). It was found that 4b and 4c showed high binding scores against RNA dependent RNA polymerase reached -8.40 and -8.75 Kcal/mol, respectively compared to the approved antiviral (remdesivir -6.77 Kcal/mol). Upon testing the binding score with SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein it was revealed that 4c exhibited the highest score (-7.22 Kcal/mol) compared to the reference antibacterial drug Ceftazidime (-6.36 Kcal/mol). Surprisingly, the two compounds 4b and 4c showed the highest binding scores against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro (-8.75, -8.48 Kcal/mol, respectively) and nsp16 (- 8.84 and – 8.89 Kcal/mol, respectively) displaying many types of interaction with all the enzymes binding sites. The derivatives 4b and 4c were examined in vitro for their potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 and it was revealed that 4c was the most promising compound with IC50 reached 758.8108 mM and complete (100%) inhibition of the binding of SARS-CoV-2 virus to human ACE2 can be accomplished by using 0.01 mg.

SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, especially the Omicron variant, remain a great threat to human health. The need to discover potent compounds that may control the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic and the emerged mutants is rising. A set of 1,2,3-triazole and/or 1,2,4-triazole was synthesized either from benzimidazole or isatin precursors. Molecular docking studies and in vitro enzyme activity revealed that most of the investigated compounds demonstrated promising binding scores against the SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron spike proteins, in comparison to the reference drugs. In particular, compound 9 has the highest scoring affinity against the SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron spike proteins in vitro with its IC50 reaching 75.98 nM against the Omicron spike protein and 74.51 nM against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The possible interaction between the synthesized triazoles and the viral spike proteins was by the prevention of the viral entry into the host cells, which led to a reduction in viral reproduction and infection. A cytopathic inhibition assay in the human airway epithelial cell line (Vero E6) infected with SARS-CoV-2 revealed the effectiveness and safety of the synthesized compound (compound 9) (EC50 and CC50 reached 80.4 and 1028.28 µg/mL, respectively, with a selectivity index of 12.78). Moreover, the antiinflammatory effect of the tested compound may pave the way to reduce the reported SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperinflammation.

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Bacterial pneumonia is considered one of the most virulent diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in hospitalized patients. Moreover, bacterial resistance increased over the last decades which limited the therapy options to carbapenem antibiotics. Hence, the metallo-β-lactamase-producing bacteria were deliberated as the most deadly and ferocious infectious agents. Sulphadiazine-ZnO hybrids biological activity was explored in vitro and in vivo against metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Docking studies against NDM-1 and IMP-1 MBLs revealed the superior activity of the 3a compound in inhibiting both MBLs enzymes in a valid reliable docking approach. The MBLs inhibition enzyme assay revealed the remarkable sulphadiazine-ZnO hybrids inhibitory effect against NDM-1 and IMP-1 MBLs. The tested compounds inhibited the enzymes both competitively and noncompetitively. Compound 3b-ZnO showed the highest antibacterial activity against the tested metallo-β-lactamase producers with an inhibition zone (IZ) diameter reaching 43 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) reaching 2 µg/mL. Sulphadiazine-ZnO hybrids were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity in a normal lung cell line (BEAS-2Bs cell line). Higher cell viability was observed with 3b-ZnO. Biodistribution of the sulphadiazine-ZnO hybrids in the lungs of uninfected rats revealed that both [124I]3a-ZnO and [124I]3b-ZnO hybrids remained detectable within the rats’ lungs after 24 h of endotracheal aerosolization. Moreover, the residence duration in the lungs of [124I]3b-ZnO (t1/2 4.91 h) was 85.3%. The histopathological investigations confirmed that compound 3b-ZnO has significant activity in controlling bacterial pneumonia infection in rats.