HIV-1 Reverse transcriptase and Protease assay of different solvent extract of Elephantopus scaber L.

Abstract

Aim of the study:Anti-HIV activity studies of different solvent extracts of Elephantopus scaber L.

Materials and methods: petroleum ether, solvent ether, methanolic and aqueous extracts of E. scaberwas tested for HIV enzyme inhibitory activity against HIV-1 Reverse transcriptase (RT) and HIV-1 Protease (PR). HIV-1 RT assay was performed usingnon-radioactive HIV-RT colorimetric ELISA kit while the HIV-1 PR assay was performed using a fluorogenicoctapeptide substrate, HIV-FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) and a recombinant HIV-1 protease solution (AnaSpec Inc., USA).

Results:The percentage inhibition of controls and E. scaber aerial part and root extracts were calculated relative to uninhibited HIV-1 RT in 2% DMSO. The results of the HIV-1 RT assay indicated 25.3% inhibition by aqueous root extract (100?g/ml) and 19.8% inhibition by methanolic extract of root while the aqueous extract of aerial part (100?g/ml) has shown only 11.1 % inhibition as compared to standard Nevarapin (100?g/ml) 27.5 % inhibition.In case of HIV-protease assay,the aqueous extract of root (RAQ) (50 ?g/ml) has shown quite high inhibition to the extent of 77% which is very significant.

Conclusion:The results of HIV-1 PR assay indicated that in comparison to standard drugs Ritonavir and Pepstatin, only aqueous extract of root has shown quite high inhibition which is very significant. Hence the study concluded that, as compared the root and aerial part extract of E. scaber, the root extract of E. scaber have more significant anti-HIV potential as evident from the results.