Forests contain nearly all of the natural resources required by humans. Apart from food, the community makes use of forest products for medicinal purposes. Betel (Piper betle L.) is one of the numerous forest plants that thrive in the forests of North Sulawesi. The leaves and fruits are used by indigenous people as anti-inflammatory medications, deodorizing body odors, and for maintaining health. Natural medicine has recently been included in clinical trials as immunomodulators in COVID19 patients. This study aimed to identify novel immunomodulatory compounds derived from betel leaf for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms, particularly proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and nuclear factor kappa B). These cytokines are critical in modulating immune responses. Bioactive compounds from betel leaves were extracted and identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These compounds were used as ligands for PyRx-based molecular docking. The admetSAR and SwissADME were used to predict ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) and Lipinskis rule of five parameters of the studied compounds. This study discovered that 17 compounds exhibited higher binding energy than the control immunomodulatory agents (β-glucan and thiopurine). Only one of the compounds violated Lipinskis rule of five. ADMET predictions indicated that the compounds possess favorable and safe pharmacokinetic properties, making them suitable for development as drug candidates. The research findings suggest that bioactive compounds derived from betel leaf may prove beneficial in the treatment of COVID19, particularly in the context of cytokine storms.
Key words: Piper betle, leaf extract, COVID-19, in silico, immunomodulator, cytokine storm
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