Deciphering Houttuynia cordata extract as electron shuttles with anti-COVID-19 activity and its performance in microbial fuel cells.

• Houttuynia cordata leaves can stimulate microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance with PD amplification ratio 1.76. • Cyclic voltammetry scanning of H. cordata leaf extracts increased PD amplification 15%. • Quercitrin has a promising inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp (-6.6 kcal/mol). • Quercitrin with electron-shuttling characteristics could be a crucial factor in antiviral drug development. Traditional herbal medicines usually contain electron shuttle (ES)-like structures compounds which are potential candidates for antiviral compounds selection. Houttuynia cordata is applied as a biomaterial to decipher its potential applications in bioenergy extraction in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and anti-COVID-19 via molecular docking evaluation. H. cordata leaves extracts by water and 60% ethanol solvent were analyzed for total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and MFCs. The bioactive compounds of H. cordata leaves extracts were assayed via LC/MS analysis. Identification of the marker substances for potential antiviral activity using a molecular docking model was provided. 60% ethanol extract exhibits the highest total polyphenols and antioxidant activity compared with water extracts. Bioenergy extraction in MFCs showed that 60% ethanol extracts could give 1.76-fold more power generation compared to the blank. Flavonoids and their sugar-to-glycan ratios increased after CV scanning and they are expected to be effective ES substances. Quercitrin, from the H. cordata extract that shares an ES-like structure, was found to exhibit strong binding affinities towards ACE2 and RdRp. This indicated the potential of H. cordata leaves as a promising antiviral herb. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]