Experimental study on anti-HIV activities with extract from tuber of Typhonium giganteum

Objective: To study the effect of anti-HIV-1 virus with extracts from the tuber of Typhonium giganteum, so as to discover new and high efficient anti-HIV-1 leading compounds from natural products and Chinese materia medica. Methods: Extract from the tuber of T. giganteum was isolated and purified by the way of phytochemistry, such as column chromatography. Then anti-HIV-1 activities of the extracts were assessed by in vitro method, MT4 cells and HIV III B virus were used for the experiment. The results were judged by cytopathic effect (CPE) method and p24 antigen assay method. Mechanism studies were carried out by BIA techniques (BIACORE® 3000 molecule coupled equipment). Results: The extracts of T. giganteum showed potential anti-HIV-1 activities. Two of them showed gp-41 transmembrance protein and Vif protein expression inhibition, respectively. Conclusion: These extracts in the tuber of T. giganteum might rewardingly contribute to anti-HIV-1 activities, which could be developed to be more efficient and less toxic leading compounds in the further.