Affiliation:
1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, India
Abstract
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients face great socio-economic problems in obtaining treatment. There is an urgent need for new, ecofriendly, safe, and inexpensive anti-HIV agents. Traditional medicinal plants are a valuable source of novel anti-HIV agents and may offer alternatives to expensive medicines in future. Various medicinal plants or plant-derived natural products have shown strong anti-HIV activity and are under various stages of clinical development in different parts of the world. Areca catechu Linn., Azadirachta indica A. Jusss., Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa, Argemone mexicana Linn, Hypericum indicum Linn., Terminalia chebula Retz., Plumbago indica Linn., Asparagus racemosus Willd., Curcuma longa Linn., Coleus forskohlii Andrews, Rubia cordifolia Linn. etc. reported promising anti-HIV potential. The chapter was directed towards discussion of anti-HIV activity of various medicinal plants and their natural extracts.