Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp
Abstract
Drug discovery campaigns against COVID-19 lag far behind vaccine development, but given the low vaccine production rate and unfair distribution, there is still an urgent need to advance reliable and potent anti-SARS- CoV-2 agents. We aimed to identify novel and effective molecules with dual-target activity against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp). For this, we designed and evaluated the library of hybrid compounds based on pyrazine and 4H-chromen-4-one linked by amide bridges. The synthetic availability of the compounds ranged from 3.08 to 3.40, indicating that these compounds are easy to synthesize. According to in silico ADMET prediction, most of the compounds satisfied all rules of drug-likeness. Compounds CPC-2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11-14, and 16 were CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 inhibitors, whereas none of them inhibited CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 isoforms. All designed compounds were predicted to be well-absorbed in the GI tract but not blood-brain barrier permeant and not subject to active efflux. Molecular docking studies against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro showed that compounds CPC-1, 6, 7, 8, and 10 could establish multiple H-bonds with the binding site residues. In the case of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, compounds CPC-5, 6, 8, 13, 14, and 16 had the most favorable binding orientations and could establish H-bonds, pi-cation, and salt-bridges with the binding tunnel residues and RNA. Compound CPC-6 turned to be the most promising candidate from the dual-action side since it had reasonable docking scores and MM-GBSA ∆Gbind values, and good interaction profiles for both Mpro and RdRp.
Keywords
References
- [1] Delelis O, Carayon K, Saib A, Deprez E, Mouscadet JF. Integrase and integration: biochemical activities of HIV-1 integrase. Retrovirology. 2008; 5(5): 114-127.
- [2] Neamati N, Lin Z, Karki RG, Orr A, Cowansage K, Strumberg D. Metal-dependent inhibition of HIV-1 integrase. J Med Chem. 2002; 45(26): 5661-5670.
- [3] Kawasuji T, Yoshinaga T, Sato A, Yodo M, Fujiwara T, Kiyama R. A platform for designing HIV integrase inhibitors.Part 1: 2-hydroxy-3-heteroaryl acrylic acid derivatives as novel HIV integrase inhibitor and modeling of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pharmacophores. Bioorg Med Chem. 2006; 14(24): 8430-8445.
- [4] Johns BA, Svolto AC. Advances in two-metal chelation inhibitors of HIV integrase. Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2008; 18(11): 1225-1237.
- [5] Rowley M. The discovery of raltegravir, an integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV infection. Prog Med Chem. 2008; 46(2008): 1-28.
- [6] Sato M, Kawakami H, Motomura T, Aramaki H, Matsuda T, Yamashita M. Quinolone carboxylic acids as a novel monoketo acid class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase inhibitors. J Med Chem. 2009; 52(15): 4869- 4882.
- [7] Elfiky AA. Ribavirin, Remdesivir, Sofosbuvir, Galidesivir, and Tenofovir against SARS-CoV-2 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp): A molecular docking study. Life Sci. 2020; 15(2020): 117592.
- [8] Gurung AB, Ali MA, Lee J, Farah MA, Al-Anazi KM. The potential of Paritaprevir and Emetine as inhibitors of SARS- CoV-2 RdRp. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021; 28(2): 1426-1432.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
June 28, 2025
Submission Date
April 28, 2021
Acceptance Date
November 18, 2021
Published in Issue
Year 2021 Volume: 25 Number: 6
APA
Mermer, A., & Vakal, S. (2025). Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 25(6), 953-966. https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ
AMA
1.Mermer A, Vakal S. Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;25(6):953-966. https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ
Chicago
Mermer, Arif, and Serhii Vakal. 2025. “Pyrazine-Chromene-3-Carbohydrazide Conjugates: Molecular Docking and ADMET Predictions on Dual- Acting Compounds Against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 25 (6): 953-66. https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ.
EndNote
Mermer A, Vakal S (July 1, 2025) Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 25 6 953–966.
IEEE
[1]A. Mermer and S. Vakal, “Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 953–966, July 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ
ISNAD
Mermer, Arif - Vakal, Serhii. “Pyrazine-Chromene-3-Carbohydrazide Conjugates: Molecular Docking and ADMET Predictions on Dual- Acting Compounds Against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 25/6 (July 1, 2025): 953-966. https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ.
JAMA
1.Mermer A, Vakal S. Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;25:953–966.
MLA
Mermer, Arif, and Serhii Vakal. “Pyrazine-Chromene-3-Carbohydrazide Conjugates: Molecular Docking and ADMET Predictions on Dual- Acting Compounds Against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 25, no. 6, July 2025, pp. 953-66, https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ.
Vancouver
1.Arif Mermer, Serhii Vakal. Pyrazine-chromene-3-carbohydrazide conjugates: Molecular docking and ADMET predictions on dual- acting compounds against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 1;25(6):953-66. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA39DZ48AZ