Anti-HIV and Anti-Candidal Effects of Methanolic Extract from <i>Heteropterys brachiata</i>

• Main Authors: Maira Huerta-Reyes, Luis O. Sánchez-Vargas, Getsemaní S. Villanueva-Amador, Luis A. Gaitán-Cepeda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: HIV; AIDS; candidiasis; antiretroviral treatment; antifungal treatment; <i>Heteropterys</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7270

Nowadays, the HIV pandemic is far from controlled. HIV+/AIDS patients show a serious risk of developing resistance to HIV antiretroviral drugs and to be orally colonized by <i>albicans</i> and non-<i>albicans Candida</i> strains resistant to antifungals. As a consequence, new drugs that possess anti-candidal and anti-HIV effects would represent an alternative in the comprehensive treatment of HIV+/AIDS patients. The present study evaluates the possible anti-HIV and anti-<i>Candida</i> effects of a methanolic extract from <i>Heteropterys brachiata</i> (Hb MeOH), an American tropical plant. The anti-HIV effect of Hb MeOH was tested using a non-radioactive colorimetric method (Lenti RT^® Activity Assay; Cavidi Tech) that uses reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 enzyme as enzymatic target. The anti-candidal effect of HbMeOH extract was evaluated by following a standardized test protocol of microdilution for yeast using the <i>Candida albicans</i> strain ATCC^® 90028. The Hb MeOH at 1 mg/mL concentration shows 38.5% RT-HIV inhibition, while Hb MeOH at 10 mg/mL concentration produced 98% <i>C. albicans</i> growth inhibition. Our findings show that the Hb MeOH possesses a strong anti-candidal activity and moderate anti-HIV effect and suggests that the plant extract could be considered as a potential candidate for HIV/AIDS treatment.