Bechan Sharma
University of Allahabad, India
Title: The antimicrobial and antiHIV-1RT properties of Parthenium hysterophorus leaves extract
Biography
Biography: Bechan Sharma
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection causes Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a disease posing threats to humans, especially when its early detection and effective therapy is lacking. Since the currently available antiretroviral regimen to treat AIDS are laced with severe side effects and induce drug resistant variants of virus, it is required to explore safe and novel plant-based molecules with immense therapeutic potential. The traditional application of ethnomedicines to treat different diseases is the best substitute of synthetic drugs.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Suitable procedures have been used for the extraction of bioactive molecules from the Indian weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, their qualitative analysis and quantitative chemical characterization of herbal molecules by GC-MS and assessment of their activities against microbial growth and replication of HIV-1 catalyzed by reverse transcriptase (HIV-1RT).
Findings: The results suggested that the plant extracts were potentially acting as antimicrobials and were able to significantly inhibit the activity of HIV-1RT.
Conclusion: The results from this study suggested that the herbal molecule(s) from P. hysterophorus may be developed as a new NNRTI against HIV-1RT to arrest HIV-1 infection.