Objective:

To gather clinics available in scientific literature on medical plants (MP) and on its active compounds (AC) tested/used in HIV infection.

Methods:

Bobliographic search on journal, conference proceedings and on main medical data banks.

Results:

Clinical studies on following MP and AC have been found: Allium s. (ajoene), Aloe v. (acemannan), Buxus s., Curcuma 1. (curcumine), Geissospermum v. (flavopereirine), Glycyrrhiza g. (glyciyrhizin), Grifola f., Lentinus e. (Lentinan), Uncaria t. (oxindole alkaloids), Hypericum p. (hypericine). Melaleuca a., Momordica c. (MAP30), Trikosanthes k. (trichosantine), Viscum a. For some MP cited above, studies on antiretroviral activity (through inhibition of main viral enzymes as reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase, inhibition of proteic synthesis, LTR, syncytia absorption and formation) and/or in vitro immuno-modulant activity (through increase of IL-2, Nk, INF-g, Macrophages, T and B cells production-or activity) have been noticed in literature. Outcomes of 28 clinical trials on MP and/or AC with antiretroviral activity (in vitro) involving 1003 persons and further 14 trials (957 persons involved) with immuno-modulant activity have been found: a total of 42 testings concerning 1960 persons living with HIV and/or AIDS: From a study typology point of view it is about 31 clinical trials (8 controlled) and 11 observational studies: 8 phase I (safety), 23 phase I/II, 2 phase II and 9 not properly defined ones.

Conclusions:

In vitro data, in most cases, have been rigorously obtained and have been confirmed by various author, whereas results of clinical resarches are often controversial and/or still incomplete. It is not possible to express any conclusive consideration with regard to single plants, but documentation on the whole suggests that MP and AC might be usefully studied in Hiv infection.