Spectroscopic investigation and structural simulation in human serum albumin with hydroxychloroquine/Silybum marianum and a possible potential COVID‐19 drug candidate

Abstract

In this study, the interaction between human serum albumin (HSA) and the hydroxychloroquine/Silybum marianum (HCQ/SM) mixture was investigated using various techniques. The observed high binding constant (Kb) and Stern–Volmer quenching constant (KSV) indicate a strong binding affinity between the HCQ/SM mixture and HSA. The circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed that HCQ/SM induced conformational changes in the secondary structure of HSA, leading to a decrease in the α‐helical content. UV‐Vis analysis exhibited a slight redshift, indicating that the HCQ/SM mixture could adapt to the flexible structure of HSA. The experimental results demonstrated the significant conformational changes in HSA upon binding with HCQ/SM. Theoretical studies were carried out using molecular dynamics simulation via the Gromacs simulation package to explore insights into the drug interaction with HSA‐binding sites. Furthermore, molecular docking studies demonstrated that HCQ/SM‐HSA exhibited favorable docking scores with the receptor (5FUZ), suggesting a potential therapeutic relevance in combating COVID‐19 with a value of −6.24 kcal mol−1. HCQ/SM exhibited stronger interaction with both SARS‐CoV‐2 virus main proteases compared to favipiravir. Ultimately, the experimental data and molecular docking analysis presented in this research offer valuable insights into the pharmaceutical and biological properties of HCQ/SM mixtures when interacting with serum albumin.