Predicted antiviral potential of phytochemicals prolific in Cleistanthus bracteosus Jabl. and essential oils of Artemisia scoparia and Thuja orientalis against Nipah virus and Human metapneumovirus: An AI-driven in-silico study

Dassanayake, MK ORCID: 0000-0002-3068-4349, Khoo, TJ, Chong, CH, Ansari, MT, Martino, PD, Zanchi, FB ORCID: 0000-0003-3386-0069, Figiel, A, Szumny, A, Elfar, OA ORCID: 0000-0001-5121-2546, Wiart, C and Symonds, R ORCID: 0000-0001-6838-2904 (2026) Predicted antiviral potential of phytochemicals prolific in Cleistanthus bracteosus Jabl. and essential oils of Artemisia scoparia and Thuja orientalis against Nipah virus and Human metapneumovirus: An AI-driven in-silico study. Plos One, 21 (3). pp. 2-29. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

The recent Nipah virus (NiV) epidemic and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) outbreak have had a significant impact on human health and society worldwide. The attachment glycoprotein (G) and fusion glycoprotein (F0) of NiV and hMPV are essential for pathogenesis and are potentially pronounced targets for antiviral treatment. In the present study, we utilised computational methods to analyse the predictive antiviral potential of phytochemicals present in Cleistanthus bracteosus and in the essential oils of Artemisia scoparia and Thuja orientalis against NiV and hMPV. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were the primary tools for assessing the binding interactions of compounds detected by GC-MS. Three out of four compounds tested (digoxigenin, cedrene and cedrol) exhibited remarkable binding affinities between −7.7 kcal/mol and −6.2 kcal/mol for NiV fusion glycoprotein (F0), and between −8.3 kcal/mol and −7.1 kcal/mol for NiV attachment glycoprotein (G). Similarly for hMPV fusion glycoprotein (F0), the aforesaid compounds showed binding affinities between −8.1 kcal/mol and −6.4 kcal/mol. Moreover, MD simulations illustrated phytochemical interacting amino acid residues associated with each receptor of NiV and hMPV. These phytochemical compounds were further evaluated using ADMET platforms. In conclusion, the present in silico work predicts for the first time the predicted potential of using major compounds present C. bracteosus, A. scoparia and T. orientalis as a novel anti-viral therapeutic strategy to control the entry and pathogenesis of NiV and hMPV. Despite few RMSD fluctuations in protein-ligand complexes stemming from structural alterations in the beta-turn-beta and helix-coil-helix, the simulations remain mostly stable from 50 ns till 100 ns.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Artemisia; Antiviral Agents; Phytochemicals; Molecular Docking Simulation; Oils, Volatile; Humans; Nipah Virus; Metapneumovirus; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Computer Simulation; Plant Extracts; 3404 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry; 34 Chemical Sciences; Biodefense; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Infectious Diseases; 1.1 Normal biological development and functioning; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Artemisia; Antiviral Agents; Phytochemicals; Molecular Docking Simulation; Oils, Volatile; Humans; Nipah Virus; Metapneumovirus; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Computer Simulation; Plant Extracts; General Science & Technology
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
Date of acceptance:	17 March 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	16 April 2026
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2026 10:40
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2026 10:40
DOI or ID number:	10.1371/journal.pone.0346254
Editors:	de Oliveira, MS
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28378

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