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REVIEW article

Front. Med.
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapy
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1322870

Anti-HIV activity in traditional Chinese medicine: clinical implications of monomeric herbal remedies and compound decoctions

Provisionally accepted
Nannan Zhang Nannan Zhang 1*Mengyuan Wang Mengyuan Wang 2Ling Gao Ling Gao 1Congying Zhang Congying Zhang 1*Xiaoguang Tang Xiaoguang Tang 1*Xianjun Liu Xianjun Liu 3*Chunying Bai Chunying Bai 1*
  • 1 School of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
  • 2 College of Biology and Food Engineering, College of Food Engineering, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, Hebei Province, China
  • 3 College of Biology and Food Engineering, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    With the global spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the pursuit of potent treatments has ascended as a paramount concern in global healthcare. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years in China and other East Asian countries and it offers remedies for an extensive array of ailments, including HIV and AIDS. This review focuses on the clinical significance of single herbs and composite tonics in TCM with antiviral activity against HIV. Initially, the anti-HIV activity of single herbs was analyzed in detail. Many herbs have been shown to have significant anti-HIV activity.The active ingredients of these herbs exhibit their anti-HIV effects through various mechanisms, such as inhibiting viral replication, preventing viral binding to host cells, and interfering with the viral lifecycle. Furthermore, we delved into the clinical significance of HIV-associated formulations provided as a result of Chinese compound prescription. These combinations of herbal ingredients are designed to amplify therapeutic efficacy and minimize adverse effects. Clinical trials have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of these prescriptions for individuals infected with HIV. The intricate composition of these prescriptions potentially augments their anti-HIV activity through synergistic effects. Additionally, this review underscores the clinical importance of TCM in the context of HIV treatment. While numerous herbs and prescriptions exhibit anti-HIV activity, their safety and efficacy in clinical applications warrant further investigation. When combined with contemporary antiretroviral drugs, TCM may serve as an adjunctive therapy, assisting in reducing side effects and enhancing patients' quality of life. To optimally harness these natural resources, further exploration is imperative to ascertain their efficacy, safety, and optimal utilization, thereby offering a broader spectrum of therapeutic options for HIV-afflicted individuals.

    Keywords: HIV, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs, composite soup, Antiviral activity, Clinical significance

    Received: 17 Oct 2023; Accepted: 18 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Wang, Gao, Zhang, Tang, Liu and Bai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Nannan Zhang, School of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
    Congying Zhang, School of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
    Xiaoguang Tang, School of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
    Xianjun Liu, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, China
    Chunying Bai, School of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University, Chifeng, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.