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Anti-HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Property of Some Edible Mushrooms in Asia

Summary

This research investigated how certain edible and medicinal mushrooms could potentially help fight HIV by blocking a key enzyme the virus needs to reproduce. The study found that several common Asian mushrooms, particularly the chaga mushroom (I. obliquus), showed promising anti-HIV properties in laboratory tests. This discovery could lead to new natural treatments for HIV/AIDS. Impacts on everyday life: • Identifies new potential natural sources for HIV treatment • Demonstrates additional health benefits of common edible mushrooms • Could lead to more affordable HIV treatment options • Supports the value of traditional medicine in modern healthcare • Shows promise for developing new drugs with fewer side effects

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which has spread worldwide, especially in Africa and Asia. With approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS and about 5,000 newly infected people daily, HIV remains a serious global health threat. While various commercial drugs target HIV-1 through different mechanisms, the virus rapidly mutates and long-term treatment can lead to drug-resistant strains, necessitating the development of new inhibitors.

Objective

To screen and evaluate the anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) properties of aqueous, ethanolic and hexane crude extracts from 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms commonly available in Thailand.

Results

The water extracts of A. blazei and I. obliquus, the ethanol extracts of I. obliquus and P. igniarius, and the hexane extract of I. obliquus demonstrated strong anti-HIV-1 RT activity with IC50 values of 1.92 ± 0.15, 4.39 ± 0.79, 6.17 ± 0.76 and 7.75 ± 2.46 µg/ml respectively. Among the 19 mushrooms tested, four species (A. subrufescens, I. obliquus, P. igniarius and V. volvacea) were reported for the first time to have anti-HIV-RT properties.

Conclusion

Several edible and medicinal mushrooms showed promising anti-HIV-1 RT activity, with I. obliquus demonstrating particularly strong inhibition across multiple extract types. These mushrooms have potential therapeutic value for HIV treatment, though further research is needed to identify and characterize the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-HIV-1 RT activity.
  • Published in:Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.012
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