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Saturday 7 April 2012

How herbal therapies increase immune function in HIV/AIDS patients

How herbal therapies increase immune function in HIV/AIDS patients

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THERE may be no cure yet for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome but African researchers are identifying more local plants that can treat opportunistic infections and boost immune function in patients.

MORE studies are supporting the use of herbal therapies to boost CD4 count (a measure of the immune system function) in people living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Top on the list of local herbs that have shown great promise in boosting the immune system are neem tree (dogonyaro or Azadiratcha indica), aloe vera, sweet basil or scent leaf (nchuanwu in Ibo and effirin in Yoruba), garlic, ginger, lemon, lemon grass, and cloves.

According to a study published in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the extract of neem showed antiretroviral activity and may help in the development of novel antiretroviral and anti-malarial drugs.
The study is titled: “An antimalarial extract from neem leaves is antiretroviral.”

The researchers evaluated an acetone–water neem leaf extract with anti-malarial activity in vitro at 5microgramme/milliliter (?g/ml) for inhibition of adhesion of malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes and cancer cells to endothelial cells, and at 10?g/ml for protection of lymphocytes against invasion by HIV.

The researchers wrote, “the extract was also evaluated in 10 patients with HIV/AIDS at 1000mg daily for 30 days. The mean binding of infected erythrocytes (red blood cells) and cancer cells per endothelial cell was 15 and 11 respectively in the absence of the extract, and zero and two respectively in with the extract. The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels.

“In the absence and presence of the extract, zero per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, of lymphocytes (white blood cells) were protected. In the treated patients, haemoglobin concentration, mean CD4+ cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which were initially 9.8g/dl, 126cells/?l and 90mm/h respectively, improved to 12.1g/dl, 241cells/?l and 49mm/h.
Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein attached to red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Mean bodyweight and platelet count, initially 57kg and 328×103/mm3 respectively, increased to 60kg and 359×103/mm3. Platelets help the blood clot.

“ No adverse effects were observed during the study. The extract showed antiretroviral activity with a mechanism of action that may involve inhibition of cytoadhesion. The results may help in the development of novel antiretroviral and anti-malarial drugs.”

African researchers have also found that fractionated neem leaf extract is safe and increases CD4 cell levels in HIV/AIDS patients.
The study was published in American Journal of Therapeutics by researchers from the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State.
The researchers investigated the safety and effect of an acetone-water neem leaf extract (IRAB) on CD4 cells in 60 HIV/AIDS patients as part of an ongoing study to determine the influence of neem on immunity and viral load in HIV/AIDS.

The researchers wrote, “patients were confirmed as HIV I or II positive, as having CD4 cell count, less than 300 cells/microL and as anti-retrovirally naïve. They were given oral IRAB (1.0 g daily for 12 weeks). Clinical and laboratory tests were carried out at baseline and at four weekly intervals. Thus, the patients served as their own controls. 60 patients completed treatment. 50 (83.33 per cent) were completely compliant with respect to laboratory tests. Increase in mean CD4 cells, 266 cells/microL (159 per cent), for the 50 patients were significant between baseline and week 12.
“Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (64 mm/hr at baseline) was 16 mm/hr at week 12, whereas total number of incidences of HIV/AIDS-related pathologies decreased from 120 at baseline to 5. Mean bodyweight, hemoglobin concentration, and lymphocyte differential count increased significantly by 12 per cent, 24 per cent, and 20 per cent, respectively.
“There were no adverse effects and no abnormalities in kidney and liver function parameters. The results support the safety of IRAB in HIV/AIDS, and its significant influence on CD4 cells may be useful in the formulation of multidrug combination therapies for HIV/AIDS. However, its antiretroviral activity is being evaluated in our laboratory.”
Also, India has successfully completed phase two trials of a neem based microbicide gel for women that promises to help prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS. Microbicides are a compound with the ability to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

After animal trials, the first phase of human trials check the toxicological effect of the drug, like itching and swelling. The sample size could be as small as 10 people. Phase two of the clinical trial takes into account more individuals than the previous phase and monitors side effects of the product. In phase three, the trials are generally conducted in multiple sites and amongst multiple risk groups. A favourable result leads to its application for licensing and mass production.
African researchers have also confirmed that lemon juice and lemon grass were more effective in treating oral thrush (candidiasis) than gentian violet.

The study titled: “Treatment of oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients with lemon juice and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and gentian violet” was published in Phytomedicine by researchers at Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Staatsartillerie Road, Pretoria-West, Pretoria 0001, Gauteng, South Africa.
The researchers investigated the safety and efficacy of lemon juice and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) in the treatment of oral thrush in HIV/AIDS patients when compared with the control group using gentian violet aqueous solution 0.5 per cent.

Oral thrush is a frequent complication of HIV infection. In the Moretele Hospice, due to financial constraints, the treatment routinely given to patients with oral thrush is either lemon juice directly into the mouth or a lemon grass infusion made from lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) grown and dried at the hospice. These two remedies have been found to be very efficacious therefore are used extensively. Gentian violet, the first line medication for oral thrush in South Africa, is not preferred by the primary health clinic patients due to the visible purple stain, which leads them to being stigmatised as HIV-positive. Cymbopogon citratus and lime (Citrus limon) have known antifungal properties.

The study design was a randomised controlled trial. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: gentian violet, lemon juice or lemon grass. Inclusion criteria included being HIV-positive with a diagnosis of oral thrush. The study period was 11 days and patients were followed up every second day. International ethical principles were adhered to during the study.

Of the 90 patients, 83 completed the study. In the intention-to-treat analysis, none of the p-values were significant therefore the null hypothesis could not be rejected. In the analysis of the participants who actually completed the trial, the lemon juice showed better results than the gentian violet aqueous solution 0.5 per cent in the treatment of oral thrush in an HIV-positive population. The null hypothesis in terms of the lemon grass and gentian violet could also be rejected on the basis of the Chi-square test and the likelihood ratio test.

The researchers concluded, “though, the patient population was small, the use of lemon juice and lemon grass for the treatment of oral candidiasis in an HIV population was validated by the randomised controlled trial.”

According to a study published in TreatmentUpdate, researchers are focusing on an extract of garlic called ajoene, which also appears to protect CD4 cells from attack by HIV early in the viral life cycle. At low concentrations, the drug appears to have little toxicity, and its anti-HIV activity is 45 times more powerful than the drug dextran sulfate. Ajoene is found only in fresh garlic and is not readily available. One researcher found that garlic impairs the activity of the liver enzymes that process protease inhibitors and raises the protease inhibitor levels.

Also, a manual on nutritional?care and support?for people living?with HIV/AIDShas validated these studies. The manual entitled Living well with HIV/AIDS was developed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The manual reads: “Aloe helps to relieve constipation. Boil and drink the concentrated water. To be used in limited amounts; stop immediately if it causes cramps or diarrhoea. Basil helps to relieve nausea and aid digestion; has an antiseptic function for mouth sores. Add to food to treat nausea and digestive problems. Use as gargle for mouth sores. Cayenne stimulates appetite, helps fight infection, heal ulcers and intestina inflammation. Add a pinch to cooked or raw foods. For an energizing drink add to fruit juice or water. Cloves stimulate appetite, help weak digestion, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting Use in soups, stews, warmed fruit juice and tea.

“Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal function, particularly in the gut, intestines, lungs and vagina. Helps digestion and feeling of weakness. Also good for thrush, throat infections, herpes and diarrhoea Prepare tea or energy drink, or use in food. Ginger improves digestion, energises, relieves diarrhoea and stimulates appetite. Used for treating common colds, flu and nausea, use either as a spice in meals or prepare a ginger tea. Lemon is antibacterial and helps digestion. Add lemon juice to food or drinks. Lemon grass has a calming effect as well as soothing digestion and alleviating stress. Use as tea. Turmeric/ yellow root is a digestive aid, antiseptic and antioxidant. Use powdered in rice, cereals, etc.
“Thyme has antiseptic and antifungal function. Relaxes nervous coughing and increases mucosal secretions (particularly effective in the gut). Stimulates digestion and the growth of the good intestinal flora in the gut. Use as gargle or mouthwash, as a vaginal douche or as tea. Neem brings down fever. Cut a fresh twig, remove the leaves and boil the bark in water; drink as tea. The bark can also be chewed.”
LIVE HEALTHY,HEALTH IS WEALTH .

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