Antiviral activity of Ugandan medicinal plants against human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)

Abstract Introduction: In Uganda, many people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) use untested herbs for therapy Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-HIV-1 activity of selected plant species. Methods: Twenty-two 22 plant extracts were tested against HIV-1 Pseudovirions (PV) HXB2 (IIIB) strain in using the human glioblastoma cell line; U87.CD4.CXCR4, transfected with the luciferase firefly reporter gene. The selective inhibition of the growth of HIV-1 PV was measured using the selectivity index (SI). The in vitro cytotoxicity of each of the plant extracts was also evaluated using the AlamarBlue cell viability assay on U87.CD4.CXCR4 cells. Results: The ethanol and DMSO extracts of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schltr., (SI = 74.7 and 56.3), Psorospermum febrifugium Spach (SI = 54.1 and 47.5) and B. micrantha (SI = 25.3 and 38.7), exhibited the highest SI against HIV-1 PV. Conclusion: Some of the plant extracts tested have potential antiviral activity against HIV-1.