Yt. Zheng et al., Alpha-momorcharin inhibits HIV-1 replication in acutely but not chronically infected T-lymphocytes, ACT PHAR SI, 20(3), 1999, pp. 239-243
AIM: To identify the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activ
ities of alpha-momorcharin ( alpha-MMC) from Momordica charantia in acutely
and chronically infected lymphocytes. METHODS: The anti-HIV activities of
alpha-MMC were examined by 1) the inhibition of syncytia formation induced
by HIV-1 III B; 2) reduction of p24 core antigen expression level and decre
ase in numbers of HIV antigen positive cells in acutely and chronically inf
ected cultures. The cytotoxic effects of alpha-MMC was tested by trypan blu
e dye exclusion or colorimetric MTT assay. RESULTS: alpha-MMC was found to
obviously inhibit HIV-1 III B-inducing C8166 syncytia formation and markedl
y reduced both expression of p24 core antigen and the numbers of HIV antige
n positive cells in acutely but not chronically HTV-1-infected culture. The
median effective concentration (EC50) in these assays were 0.016, 0.07, an
d 0.32 mg.L-1, respectively. CONCLUSION: alpha-MMC is a unique component of
momorcharin with anti-HIV activity, and markedly inhibited HIV-1 replicati
on in acutely but not chronically HIV-1-infected T-lymphocytes.