A survey of some Indian medicinal plants for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity

Background & objectives: India has an extensive area of forest enriched wit h plant diversity. Several of these plants have been used as folklore medic ines. However, the medicinal plants have rarely been investigated for anti- human immunodeficiency virus activity. Hence, some Indian medicinal plants were screened in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: The inhibitory effect of plant extracts on HIV replication was mon itored in terms of inhibition of virus induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 ce lls. The MT-4 cells were infected with HIV. The HIV infected or mock infect ed MT-4 cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in a CO2 incubator in the pres ence of the plant extracts. After five days, cell viability was measured by tetrazolium based colorimetric assay. Results & Interpretation: Of the 69 plant species screened, 16 were effecti ve against HIV-1 and 4 were against both HIV-1 and HIV-2, The most effectiv e extracts against HIV-1 and HIV-2 are respectively Cinnamomum cassia (bark ) and Cardiospermum helicacabum (shoot+fruit), The findings provide a ratio nale for further studies on isolation of active principles and pharmacologi cal evaluation.