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Planta Med 2002; 68(2): 111-114
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-20256
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

In vitro Anti-HIV Activity of Oleanolic Acid on Infected Human Mononuclear Cells

Fabio Mengoni1 , Miriam Lichtner1 , Lucia Battinelli2 , Monica Marzi1 , Claudio Maria Mastroianni1 , Vincenzo Vullo1 , Gabriela Mazzanti2
  • 1Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University ”La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
  • 2Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University ”La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

February 2, 2001

June 24, 2001

Publication Date:
22 February 2002 (online)

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Abstract

Oleanolic acid is a triterpenoid which is quite common in nature in the form either of free acid or in triterpenoid saponin glycosides. This study describes the effect of oleanolic acid on the growth of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) in cultures of human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and of monocyte/macrophages (M/M). Its inhibitory activity was also evaluated on PBMC obtained from HIV-1 infected patients. Results obtained show that oleanolic acid inhibits the HIV-1 replication in all the cellular systems used (EC50 values: 22.7 μM, 24.6 μM and 57.4 μM for in vitro infected PBMC, naturally infected PBMC and M/M, respectively). As regards the mechanism of action, oleanolic acid inhibits in vitro the HIV-1 protease activity.

Key words

Oleanolic acid - anti HIV-1 activity - HIV-1 protease - PBMC - M/M

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Lucia Battinelli

Dipartimento di Farmacologia delle Sostanze Naturali e

Fisiologia Generale

Università ”La Sapienza”

P.le Aldo Moro, 5

00185 Rome

Italy

Phone: +39-06-4991-2903

Fax: +39-06-4991-2480

Email: lucia.battinelli@uniroma1.it