Phytochemical Profiling of Moringa Oleifera and Carica Papaya Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Through GCMS and Computational Approaches for Dengue Virus Inhibition

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) continues to be a critical global health burden due to the lack of targeted antiviral therapies. Green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer a sustainable, biocompatible, and effective alternative for viral inhibition. This study explores the synergistic potential of Moringa oleifera and Carica papaya in synthesizing AgNPs and identifies bioactive compounds capable of inhibiting DENV. Methods: Silver nanoparticles were biosynthesized using M. oleifera seeds and C. papaya fruits. Characterization was performed via UV, TEM, EDS, and FTIR to confirm structural and elemental properties. Phytochemicals were identified through GC-MS profiling. In silico screening was conducted using SwissADME for drug-likeness and PASS-ONLINE for antiviral activity against DENV Serotype 2. Finally, molecular docking was employed to evaluate the binding affinity of selected compounds against key viral targets: NS2B/NS3 protease, NS5 polymerase, and envelope protein domain III. Results: GC-MS initially identified 130 compounds from M. oleifera and 160 from C. papaya. Following ADME filtration, these were reduced to 37 and 35 compounds, respectively. Based on antiviral prediction scores, eight lead compounds were shortlisted for docking. 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid and benzeneacetic acid emerged as the primary lead scaffolds within this dataset, demonstrating moderate binding affinities and stable molecular interactions with critical DENV proteins. These findings provide preliminary in silico insights into prospective starting structures that warrant future experimental optimization and biological validation. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that plant-mediated nanotechnology, combined with computational drug discovery, can efficiently identify novel antiviral scaffolds. The dual-functional approach of using M. oleifera and C. papaya for AgNP synthesis and bioactive compound sourcing provides a promising framework for developing future experimental validation toward dengue therapeutics.