African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12486

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro activity of three selected South African medicinal plants against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase

Pascal Obong Bessong1, 2*, Chikwelu Larry Obi2, Eunice Igumbor2, Marie-Line Andreola3, Simon Litvak3
1Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, P.O Box  801379 Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. 2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Venda for Science and Technology. PMB X5050 Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa.  3REGER, UMR-5097 CNRS, Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux 2, Rue Leo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux, France.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 10 August 2004
  •  Published: 31 October 2004

Abstract

Crude extracts of three ethnobotanically selected medicinal plants were screened for activity against two functions of human immunodeficiency type 1 reverse transcriptase. Inhibition of the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity was evaluated by measuring the degree of incorporation of methyl-3H thymidine triphosphate using polyadenylic acid.oligodeoxythymidylic acid as a template primer. Ribonuclease H activity was evaluated by measuring the extent of degradation of a radiolabelled RNA in an RNA/DNA hybrid by reverse transcriptase in the presence of test substance. The methanol extract of the leaves of Terminalia sericea (Combretaceae) was found to strongly inhibit the polymerase (IC50 = 7.2 µg/ml) and the ribonuclease H (IC50 = 8.1 µg/ml) activities. Isolation and characterization of a possible active molecule is warranted.

       

Key words: HIV-1 reverse transcriptase; inhibition; crude extracts; medicinal plants;Terminalia sericea; South Africa.

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