In silico based unraveling of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) inhibitors from natural compounds: a molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation study.

The development of pathogenic microbial resistance toward antibiotics has become a global clinical concern. New Delhi metallo-β-lactmase-1 (NDM-1) and its variants have recently drawn immense attention for its biological ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of almost all of β-lactam antibiotics including the Carbapenems which are generally considered as the last-resort antibiotics. Also, the horizontal gene transfer is expediting the rapid spread of NDM-1 in bacteria. In the wake of this serious antibiotic resistance problem it becomes imperative to find inhibitors which can render the present antibiotics functional and useful. In the present study, we have used Molecular docking and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation approach to find out suitable inhibitors against NDM-1 from an array of different natural compounds. We have screened unique natural compounds from ZINC database and also a set of standard antibiotics and inhibitors. Based upon the highest binding affinity demonstrated by docking with NDM-1, the best binding antibiotic Meropenem and the top five natural compounds, viz., Withaferin A, Beta-Sitosterol, Aristolochic acid, Diosgenin and Guggulsterone E were selected and subjected to MD simulations study. The docked NDM-1 complex with withaferin A, beta-sitosterol and diosgenin were found to be more stable as compared to the one with meropenem throughout the MD simulation process with the relative RMSD and RMSF in acceptable range. In conclusion, these compounds can be readily tested in vitro and in vivo to fully establish and confirm their inhibition potentiality and can also serve as lead molecules for the development of future functional inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.