CSIR Biosciences investigated the anti-HIV properties of a plant indigenous to the Eastern Cape, commonly used by traditional healers. A natural compound isolated from the plant, coded BP36, inhibited infectivity of HIV-1 pseudoviruses. The data suggests that BP36 is an entry inhibitor and may therefore be suitable to be developed as a microbicide to control the sexual transmission of HIV.
Reference:
Van den Berg, N, Mbobela, P, Pillay, P, et al. 2011. Inhibition of HIV-1 by a natural compound. 5th SA AIDS Conference. ICC, Durban, 7-10 June 2011, pp. 1
Van den Berg, N., Mbobela, P., Pillay, P., Maharaj, V., & Khati, M. (2011). Inhibition of HIV-1 by a natural compound. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5097
Van den Berg, N, P Mbobela, P Pillay, V Maharaj, and M Khati. "Inhibition of HIV-1 by a natural compound." (2011): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5097
Van den Berg N, Mbobela P, Pillay P, Maharaj V, Khati M, Inhibition of HIV-1 by a natural compound; 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/5097 .
