Abstract

Thymus capitatus extract has been considered a promise as antiviral agent against COVID‑19 viruses. We hypothesized that Thymus capitatus components may interact with key protein targets of COVID‑19 (coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing severe acute respiratory syndromes. Molecular docking analysis was carried out using 31 components of Thymus capitatus with SARS-CoV-2 protease enzyme (6LU7) and spike glycoprotein (6VSB). The compounds with the best normalized docking scores to protease enzyme were allo-Aromadendrene (-6.3 kcal/mole), spathulenol (-6.6 kcal/mole) and ledene (-6.8 kcal/mole). The best docking ligands for spike glycoprotein were allo-Aromadendrene (-6.6 kcal/ mole), spathulenol (-6.6 kcal/mole) and ledene (-7.3 kcal/mole). All Thymus capitatus components may act synergistically to produce the therapeutic action. Thymus capitatus components may potentiate the effect of prednisolone, azithromycin and other medicines used to treat COVID-19 patients.