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Computational analysis reveal inhibitory action of nimbin against dengue viral envelope protein

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Abstract

Dengue has emerged to be global health problem worldwide. Hence there is an immediate need to adopt new strategies in the development of effective anti-dengue drugs. Extracts from the leaves of Azadirachta indica has been traditionally used in folk medicine for viral infections. In the present study we report the anti-viral potency of nimbin, the active compound from the neem leaf extract against the envelope protein of dengue virus. Progression of viral entry into the host cell is facilitated by the envelope protein of dengue virus, suggesting; it as an effective anti-viral target. Nimbin is found to be effective against the envelope protein of all four types of dengue virus (dengue 1–4), which is evident from our in silico analysis. Our findings suggest the clinical importance of nimbin, which can serve as effective lead compound for further analysis.

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Acknowledgments

S.R and A.A gratefully acknowledges the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Government of India Agency for the research Grant [IRIS ID: 2014-0099] to carry out this research. P. Lavanya thanks ICMR for the research fellowship. We would like to thank the management of VIT University for providing us the necessary facilities to carry out this research project.

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  1. Medical and Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India

    P. Lavanya, Sudha Ramaiah & Anand Anbarasu

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  1. P. Lavanya
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Correspondence to Anand Anbarasu.

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Lavanya, P., Ramaiah, S. & Anbarasu, A. Computational analysis reveal inhibitory action of nimbin against dengue viral envelope protein. VirusDis. 26, 243–254 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-015-0280-x

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