Targeting of Protein’s Messenger RNA for Viral Replication, Assembly and Release in SARS-CoV-2 Using Whole Genomic Data From South Africa: Therapeutic Potentials of Cannabis Sativa
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Date
2021-09-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Front. Pharmacol.
Abstract
The possible evolutionary trend of COVID-19 in South Africa was investigated by comparing
the genome of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from a patient in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with
those isolated from China, Spain, Italy, and United States, as well as the genomes of Bat
SARS CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Mouse Hepatitis
Virus (MHV), and Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed a strong
homology (96%) between the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa and those isolated from the study countries as well as those isolated from bat SARS
CoV, MERS-CoV, MHV and IBV. The ability of phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa
infusion to interact with gene segments (mRNAs) coding for proteins implicated in viral
replication, assembly and release were also investiagted using computational tools. Hot
water infusion of C. sativa leaves was freeze-dried and subjected to Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy analysis which revealed the presence of tetrahydrocannabivarin,
cannabispiran, cannabidiol tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, and cannabinol.
Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinities and interactions between
the phytocannabinoids and codon mRNAs for ORF1ab, Surface glycoprotein, Envelope
protein and Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein from SARS-CoV-2 whole genome which may be
due to chemico-biological interactions as a result of nucleophilic/electrophilic attacks
between viral nucleotides and cannabinoids. These results depict the spread of SARSCoV-2 is intercontinental and might have evolved from other coronaviruses. The results also
portray the phytocannabinoids of C. sativa infusion as potential therapies against COVID-19
as depicted by their ability to molecularly interact with codon mRNAs of proteins implicated in
the replication, translation, assembly, and release of SARS-CoV-2. However, further studies
are needed to verify these activities in pre-clinical and clinical studies
Description
Keywords
Cannabis sativa, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, phytocannabinoid, South Africa, Ahmadu Bello University, ACENTDFB, ACE: Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology
Citation
Erukainure OL, Matsabisa MG, Muhammad A, Abarshi MM, Amaku JF, Katsayal SB and Nde AL (2021) Targeting of Protein’s Messenger RNA for Viral Replication, Assembly and Release in SARS-CoV-2 Using Whole Genomic Data From South Africa: Therapeutic Potentials of Cannabis Sativa L. Front. Pharmacol. 12:736511. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.736511