Acupuncture Research

AIDS

Anti-HIV Properties of Chinese Medicinal Herbs H.C.X.

By Zeller, Barbara, M.D.
[LB.A.6014]

Zhuo, Huan C1, Hudson JB2, Lee W1. 1Zhuollen Technology Ltd., New Westminster; 2University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Objective: To evaluate Chinese Herbal Complex X for anti-HIV activity.

Materials: Lonicera japonica; Taraxacum monoglicum; Phellodendron Chinese; Coix lacryma-jobi; Astragalus membranaceus; Boswellia carterii etc.

Methods: The plaque-assays of evaluation of HCX had carried out in virology laboratory, Division of Medical Microbiology, VGH. Results: 25-50% HCX was non-toxic and displayed significant anti-Sindbis virus activity; 20-40% HCX had anti-mouse cytomegalovirus activity effects, but less than the former. The tests for anti-HIV activity were carried out in the B.C. Provincial AIDS Lab. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control) in conformity with regulations for HIV culture work. The extract, derived by steam extraction of HCX powder, is considered the starting material (100%) after making isotonic with concentrated saline solution. The extract was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes in the Sorvall centrifuge to pellet particular material. The clear supernatant was diluted with an equal volume of double-strength medium and filtered. The extract was then diluted with different volumes of medium and mixed (in duplicate) with an equal volume of HIV (103 TCD50) in the wells of tissue culture trays. Final concentrations of the extract (100µ1+100µ1virus) were 50, 30, 20, 10, 5 and 0%. The mixtures were incubated at 37Üc for 60 minutes and 4x105 CEM cells, in 2.0 ml complete medium (10% serum) were added to each culture well. At 5 days culture supernat. were removed for p24 antigen assays.

Conclusions: 1) HCX had significant anti-HIV activity. At concentration 50%, there were no viral CPE, i.e. the virus had been completely destroyed. 2) There was no difference between the extracts derived from 4 different sources.

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