This protein must be cleaved in order for nascent viral particles to mature. This cleavage requires a scissor-like enzyme called protease, which is responsible for the terminal maturation of the virions. PIs (protease inhibitors), especially full-dose Norvir (ritonavir) and Norvir-boosted Aptivus, are also associated with hepatotoxicity. Unlike Viramune, PIs may cause hepatotoxicity at any time. Patients infected with both HIV and hepatic C virus (HCV) may be at particular risk for developing hepatotoxicity Ku-0059436 clinical trial while taking PIs.18 As a class, PIs have been particularly associated with several adverse effects,

including gastrointestinal symptoms, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and fat redistribution, some of which are well-recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.23 A five year cohort study of metabolic complications associated with prolonged PI exposure found that PI therapy was associated with a 6-fold higher adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) of hypertriglyceridaemia, 2.8-fold http://www.selleckchem.com/Wnt.html higher IRR of hypercholesterolemia (Non-PI regimens had a 2.5-fold higher IRR), 5-fold higher

IRR of hyperglycaemia and 5-fold higher IRR of lipodystrophy, when compared with HIV-infected patients never exposed to PI therapy.24 The data collection on adverse events of anti-HIV drugs (DAD) study is a prospective, multinational, observational study comprising 11 cohorts form 21 countries, which on last analysis included 178,835 persons–years of longitudinal ADAMTS5 data.25 and 26 This study found that there was an increased risk of myocardial infraction associated with the increased exposure to certain PIs such as Lopinavir, Ritonavir and Indinavir. The use of ethnomedicine to manage HIV/AIDS has recently gained public interest. Plants and other natural products present a large repertoire from which to isolate novel anti-HIV active

compounds. Several anti-HIV active compounds that include diterpenes, triterpenes, biflavonoids, coumarins, caffeic acid tetramers, hypericin, gallotannins, galloylquinic acids, curcumins, michellamines and limonoids. These active compounds are known to inhibit various steps in HIV life cycle. More clinical trials of the candidate drugs developed from these novel compounds have to be focused on. Herbal therapy is medically active substances harvested from plants. They may come from any part of the plant but are most commonly made from leaves, roots, seeds or flowers. Herbal therapies are part of virtually every medical system. Many drugs now used by conventional Western doctors originated as herbal medicines. Herbal medicines are often viewed as a balanced and moderate approach to healing. Herbal medicines are promoted as a general and non-toxic approach in treatment of severe diseases. Ancistrocladus korupensis has been studied for its anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 activities.