Biological Sciences, Peoples Integrated Alliance, Bogra, Bangladesh
Introduction: The art of herbal healing has very deep roots in Bangladeshi culture and folklore. Unani medicines serve as a major source of primary health care for Bangladeshi people. The reasons for their use range from easy access, affordability, beliefs in traditional systems, and long-term safety. Unani medicines have been used to treat individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and therefore need scientific validation, a view supported by the herb- alists.

Patients (or Materials) and Methods: The studies aimed to evaluates the in vitro cytotoxicity, immune-modulatory, and anti-HIV activi- ties of traditional multiple herbal preparations from the herbalists. Triphola, Mohasudarshan, Doshomula, Sarasvati, and Hingoshtak medicines were supplied by the herbalists.

Results: Changesinadenosinetriphosphateandglutathioneover36 hours were measured using luminometry. Changes in 13 cytokines were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based absorbance assay. Protective effects against HIV killing of metal- lothionein-IV cells were tested using the cell proliferation kit assay, and antiviral activities was measured using an HIV-1 viral load assay. Cyclosporine and azidothymidine were used as positive con- trols. Mohasudarshan, Doshomula, and Sarasvati induced a dose- dependent toxicity on treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by reducing adenosine triphosphate, and glutathione at high doses (P < 0.001). These remedial preparations, along with Triphola, showed immunomodulatory activities by significantly (P < 0.001) chang- ing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Hingoshtak stimu- lated the levels of adenosine triphosphate, and glutathione in treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells at all doses however this remedial did not show any immunomodulatory activities on cytokine secretion when compared with control cells. Doshomula, Mohasudarshan, and Triphola showed promising anti-HIV activities relative to azidothy- midine (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: The studies have exposed that some of these traditional remedial preparations have at least 1 or all the properties of immu- nostimulation, immunomodulation otherwise antiretroviral effects.

Proper scientific studies conducted on these preparations may lead to discovery of more effective drugs than in use at present.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared.