Washington. A medicinal plant traditionally used in Asia to treat arthritis has been found to contain a compound that may be effective against HIV. According to scientists, the compound patentifluorine A obtained from this plant has been found in laboratory tests to be more potent than Azidothymidine (AZT), a drug used against HIV.
This compound is obtained from the medicinal plant Justicia. Researchers analyzed the effects of more than 4,500 plant extracts against the HIV virus, identifying pentafluorine A. Scientists believe that this compound may prove potentially useful in the future for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
Professor Doel Soejarto of the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, worked on this plant. He prepared the extract more than a decade ago by taking samples of the leaves, stems and roots of the plant from Cuc Phuong National Park in Hanoi, Vietnam.
During the research, the activity of extracts obtained from these plants against HIV virus was examined. In the same process, patentfluorine A was identified as an effective anti-HIV compound.
According to scientists, this discovery opens the possibility of further research towards developing new treatment options against HIV. However, further extensive research and clinical trials regarding its efficacy, safety, and effects on the human body will be necessary before this plant compound can be used medicinally.