title: Anti-HIV activity of extracts from Calendula officinalis flowers.
abstract: Extracts of dried flowers from Calendula officinalis were examined for their ability to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. Both organic and aqueous extracts were relatively nontoxic to human lymphocytic Molt-4 cells, but only the organic one exhibited potent anti-HIV activity in an in vitro MTT/tetrazolium-based assay. In addition, in the presence of the organic extract (500 micrograms/mL), the uninfected Molt-4 cells were completely protected for up to 24 h from fusion and subsequent death, caused by cocultivation with persistently infected U-937/HIV-1 cells. It was also found that the organic extract from Calendula officinalis flowers caused a significant dose- and time-dependent reduction of HIV-1 reverse transcription (RT) activity. An 85% RT inhibition was achieved after a 30 min treatment of partially purified enzyme in a cell-free system. These results suggested that organic extract of flowers from Calendula officinalis possesses anti-HIV properties of therapeutic interest.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virus Animales, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kalvatchev
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garzaro
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D002470:Cell Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase