BEHP - A PHTHALATE DERIVATIVE CHARACTERIZED FROM THE SOUTH INDIAN SQUID AND ITS ANTI-HCV LIKE PROPERTY: AN IN-VITRO AND INSILICO ANALYSIS

Abstract

Over decades, chronic infection with hepatitis C viruses results in liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and eventually, death. Many approved agents for treating viral hepatitis limits their efficacy as they manifest various side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new antiviral drugs with fewer side effects, higher efficacy and with different modes of action against hepatitis viruses. Recent advances in the in-silico virtual screening paves way towards efficient discovery of new drugs on the basis of drug target evaluation and analysis. Phthalates and their derivatives extracted from the secondary metabolites of various existing natural sources have proved to possess various bioactive properties. Bis (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate [BEHP] is a phthalate derivative extracted from various natural sources with bioactive properties and in our earlier studies we have characterised the same phthalate from the black pigmented ink of the squid and it was antimicrobial in nature. In this concern this research work was carried out to assess the anti-HCV like activity by ELISA and have been characterised for the in-silico analysis against NS3/4A Ser protease target of HCV. Toxicity prediction was made using ADME/Tox tool. The docking scores and the in-silico toxicity test results indicate the application of BEHP as potential novel anti-HCV agent and a promising candidate to combat viral hepatitis in near future.