MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Indole-Based Compounds as Potential Drug Candidates for SARS-CoV-2

Summary

Scientists are searching for new treatments for COVID-19 by studying indole-containing compounds, which are found in many plants and can be made in laboratories. Some approved drugs with indole structures, like the antiviral drug Arbidol, have been repurposed to fight COVID-19. Researchers are also designing new indole compounds and using computer simulations to predict which ones might work best against the virus’s key proteins.

Background

COVID-19 has posed a significant threat to global health since 2019. The indole moiety is a privileged scaffold found in many alkaloids with diverse biological properties. Despite intense research, no universally effective therapeutics have been discovered for severely infected patients.

Objective

This review examines indole-containing compounds, both natural and synthetic, as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. The study discusses repurposed indole-based drugs and explores computer-aided drug design approaches for optimizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 leads and hits.

Results

Multiple indole-containing compounds demonstrated anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity including umifenovir/Arbidol, indomethacin, melatonin, and various synthetic compounds like isatins, 2-oxindoles, and spiroindoles. Several compounds showed inhibitory properties against main protease (Mpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and spike glycoprotein.

Conclusion

Indole-containing compounds represent important lead molecules for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development. Further optimization through manipulation of indolyl heterocycle substitution patterns could yield potent agents effective against current and future viral mutations. Both repurposing and de novo design approaches show promise.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 37764378, DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186603
Scroll to Top