DRUG LEADS FROM THE KALLAWAYA HERBALISTS OF BOLIVIA .1. BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, PROTOCOL AND ANTI-HIV ACTIVITY

Aqueous, organic and alcoholic extracts of over 100 samples of 60 spec ies of Kallawaya medicinal herbs representing 30 plant families were a ssayed to compare their toxicity and ability to protect MT-2 T-lymphob lastoid cells from the cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency vir us (HIV). The results are reported as a therapeutic index (TI) which w as > 25 for eighteen species, including seven > 50 and one > 100. The anti-HIV activity resided primarily in the aqueous rather than in the organic extracts and was concentrated in plants used in ethnomedicine to treat lung and liver diseases.