Global HIV-1 treatment would benefit greatly from safe herbal medicines
with scientifically validated novel anti-HIV-1 activities. The root
extract from the medicinal plant Pelargonium sidoides (PS) is
licensed in Germany as the herbal medicine EPs®7630, with numerous
clinical trials supporting its safety in humans. Here we provide
evidence from multiple cell culture experiments that PS extract displays
potent anti-HIV-1 activity. We show that PS extract protects peripheral
blood mononuclear cells and macrophages from infection with various X4
and R5 tropic HIV-1 strains, including clinical isolates. Functional
studies revealed that the extract from PS has a novel mode-of-action. It
interferes directly with viral infectivity and blocks the attachment of
HIV-1 particles to target cells, protecting them from virus entry.
Analysis of the chemical footprint of anti-HIV activity indicates that
HIV-1 inhibition is mediated by multiple polyphenolic compounds with low
cytotoxicity and can be separated from other extract components with
higher cytotoxicity. Based on our data and its excellent safety profile,
we propose that PS extract represents a lead candidate for the
development of a scientifically validated herbal medicine for anti-HIV-1
therapy with a mode-of-action different from and complementary to
current single-molecule drugs.
Read more: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0087487#sthash.nQigzu4r.dpuf
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