Appraisal of antiretroviral herbal medicines with proven efficacy: modulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and permeability glycoprotein activities
Adebanjo Jonathan Adegbola
1 
, Sharon Iyobor Igbinoba
2 , Sa'ad Toyin Abdullahi
3 , Julius Olugbenga Soyinka
1* , Cyprian Ogbona Onyeji
4 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
3 Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
4 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) constitutes a source of great concern to health authorities worldwide. Herbal medicinal products are used as a significant treatment option for highly active antiretroviral therapies, the efficacies of which are negatively impacted by the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains to the recommended treatment guidelines. This review provides an updated synopsis of available documents on herbal medicinal products with anti-HIV activities. Concurrent consumption of herbal products with conventional drugs, which is often necessitated by co-morbidity of HIV with other diseases, can potentially alter the pharmacokinetics of the co-administered orthodox drugs. Phytochemical constituents of the herbal medicinal products with antiretroviral activities were identified, and their potential to mediate pharmacokinetic changes through modulation of drug-metabolizing enzymes and P-glycoprotein was reported. Herb-drug interactions (HDIs) that can result in significant adverse effects were also discussed with documenting the information for the therapeutic utility of these clinically effective antiretroviral herbal medicinal products with potential for development into newer anti-HIV drugs.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: This study documents and evaluates the plants that are used traditionally in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the active phytochemicals such as andrographolide, lentinan, azadirachtin, thymoquinone, and pinocembrin have the potential and might be novel drugs for the treatment of HIV in the future.