Anti-HIV-1 protease activities of crude extracts of some Garcinia species growing in Tanzania

Abstract

Eighteenth ethanol extracts from some Garcinia species in the Guttiferae (Clusiaceae) family collected in Tanzania were investigated for their HIV-1 protease (HIV-1 PR) inhibitory activities using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among the tested extracts, the fruit hulls of Garcinia
semseii showed the most potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 PR with an IC50 value of 5.7 ìg/ml followed by the stem bark extracts of Garcinia edulis and Garcinia kingaensis with IC50 values of 9.2 and 15.2 ìg/ml, respectively. Phytochemical screening of extracts indicated mostly the presence of phenolic
and steroidal compounds.