AEGiS-06IAC: Inhibition of HIV replication in lymphocyte culture of virus positive subjects in the presence of an oriental plant extract (Sho-Saiko-To, SST).

6th International AIDS Conference

San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

Inhibition of HIV replication in lymphocyte culture of virus positive subjects in the presence of an oriental plant extract (Sho-Saiko-To, SST).

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:317 (abstract no. 1012)
Buimovici-Klein E, Lange M, Mohan VP, Fenamore E, Inada Y, Cooper LZ; St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

OBJECTIVE: An oriental medicine, Sho-Saiko-To (SST), consisting of aqueous extract from a mixture of seven different plants, and which most active component is chemically defined baicalein, was tested for its ability to inhibit the replication of HIV.

METHODS: The testing was done in cultures of human lymphocytes obtained from 10 HIV positive asymptomatic subjects (AS), 5 patients with ARC and 5 with AIDS. The replication of the virus was monitored by quantitative assay of the reverse transcriptase activity (RTA) and of the synthesis of p24 antigen. The lymphocytes were maintained in the absence and in the presence of 25, 50 or 100 mug/ml of SST, and monitored for up to 5 weeks.

RESULTS: The results showed that RTA and synthesis of p24 were completely inhibited by all concentrations of SST in lymphocytes from AS. Only high concentrations of SST inhibited virus replication in 80% of lymphocytes from ARC patients, but were ineffective in lymphocytes from AIDS. It was observed that the RTA was more sensitive to inhibition by SST than the synthesis of p24 and that the antiviral effect was dependent on the virus load of the lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION: It appears therefore that SST could be an effective alternative antiretroviral treatment for HIV positive asymptomatic subjects and selected ARC patients.

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