The use of herbal medicines in early drug development for the treatment of HIV infections and AIDS.
This review systematically assesses the beneficial and harmful effects of herbal medicines in people with HIV infection and AIDS. Based on a Cochrane review and updated searches, the author identifies the available evidence on herbal medicines compared with placebo or antiretroviral drugs in patients with HIV infection, HIV-related disease or AIDS. There are ten randomised controlled trials, involving 571 individuals with HIV infection or AIDS, that met the inclusion criteria. Some herbal medicines, such as IGM-1 seem to be effective in symptom improvement, but generally no significant effect on antiviral or immunity enhancement among reviewed herbs was seen. Combined treatment of Chinese herbal medicine, SH and antiretroviral agents showed increased antiviral benefit compared with antiretrovirals alone. These findings suggest beneficial effects from some of the tested herbs but more evidence from larger studies are needed to support this evidence in the future.
Liu
Jianping
J
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Centre for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. Jianping_l@hotmail.com
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations