African plant shows promise in HIV latency phase research
A plant from the spurge family is growing in Africa, which shows antiviral potential in combating HIV during the so-called latency phase. Scientists have only now discovered this property, although the species has been known for years and has already been utilised in treating various diseases and ailments.
Researchers from the Wistar Institute and the University of Buea in Cameroon have reached surprising conclusions. The plant species Croton oligandrus has shown medicinal mechanisms with antiviral potential against HIV.
Findings from the researchers are published in the "Journal of Experimental Pharmacology." It is possible that although the research was conducted locally, it could have global effects.
This work demonstrates the value of global partnerships to the search for an HIV cure. An effective cure will need to reach people around the world, and by leveraging traditional African ethnomedicine, we’re making progress toward a cure with accessibility in mind - emphasised Luis Montaner, director of the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Centre, who is leading HIV research at Wistar.
Research has been ongoing for years. HIV is still not completely curable
Research on HIV and AIDS has been ongoing for years but has not yielded definitive results. It is true that people can live a full life with HIV, but the virus cannot be completely eradicated. Even when undergoing continuous antiretroviral treatment, the virus remains in reservoirs throughout the body and can reactivate at any moment.
This species has been used in traditional medicine for years
C. oligandrus was chosen by scientists for research due to its long history of use, and along with other related African plants, it has been employed in ethnomedicine.
As many articles available at the National Library of Medicine indicate, residents of Cameroon and neighbouring countries have relied on traditional plant medicine from healers for thousands of years to treat all sorts of diseases, from cancer to diabetes. Now, some species are proving effective even in treating HIV.
Scientists isolated compounds from the powdered bark and conducted tests that confirmed in four out of six compounds the reversion of HIV latency in vitro. The authors of the study hope these findings will become a breakthrough.
