El-Ashrey, Mohamed KBakr, Riham O.Fayed, Marwa A.ARefaey, Rana HNissan, Yassin M2022-03-252022-03-252022-05https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2022.03.003http://repository.msa.edu.eg/xmlui/handle/123456789/4894The challenge continues globally triggered by the absence of an approved antiviral drug against COVID-19 virus infection necessitating global concerted efforts of scientists. Nature still provides a renewable source for drugs used to solve many health problems. The aim of this work is to provide new candidates from natural origin to overcome COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual screening of the natural compounds database (47,645 compounds) using structure-based pharmacophore model and molecular docking simulations reported eight hits from natural origin against SARS-CoV-2 main proteinase (Mpro) enzyme. The successful candidates were of terpenoidal nature including taxusabietane, Isoadenolin A & C, Xerophilusin B, Excisanin H, Macrocalin B and ponicidin, phytoconstituents isolated from family Lamiaceae and sharing a common ent-kaurane nucleus, were found to be the most successful candidates. This study suggested that the diterpene nucleus has a clear positive contribution which can represent a new opportunity in the development of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitorsen-USCOVID-19PharmacophoreTerpenoidsEnt-kauraneMain protease inhibitorsinhibitorsArticlehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2022.03.003