Definition

AIDS is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.

HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS. ²

Fig: 1 Structure and genome of HIV

HIV is different in structure (figure-1) from other retroviruses. It is roughly spherical with a diameter of about 120 nm, around 60 times smaller than a red blood cell, yet large for a virus. It is composed of two copies of positive single-stranded RNA that codes for the virus's nine genes enclosed by a conical capsid composed of 2,000 copies of the viral protein p24. The single-stranded RNA is tightly bound to nucleocapsid proteins, p7, and enzymes needed for the development of the virion such as reverse transcriptase, proteases, ribonuclease and integrase. A matrix composed of the viral protein p17 surrounds the capsid ensuring the integrity of the virion particle.

Classification 9

Table no.1

Comparison of HIV species
Species	Virulence	Infectivity	Prevalence	Inferred origin
HIV-1	High	High	Global	Common Chimpanzee
HIV-2	Lower	Low	West Africa	Sooty Mangabey

HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus part of the family of Retroviridae Lentiviruses have many morphologies and biological properties in common. Many species are infected by lentiviruses, which are characteristically responsible for long-duration illnesses with a long incubation period. Lentiviruses are transmitted as single-stranded, positive-sense, enveloped RNA viruses. Upon entry into the target cell, the viral RNA genome is converted (reverse transcribed) into double-stranded DNA by a virally encoded reverse transcriptase that is transported along with the viral genome in the virus particle. The resulting viral DNA is then imported into the cell nucleus and integrated into the cellular DNA by a virally encoded integrase and host co-factors. Once integrated, the virus may become latent, allowing the virus and its host cell to avoid detection by the immune system. Alternatively, the virus may be transcribed, producing new RNA genomes and viral proteins that are packaged and released from the cell as new virus particles that begin the replication cycle anew.

Two types of HIV (table 1) have been characterized: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the virus that was initially discovered and termed both LAV and HTLV-III. It is more virulent, more infective, and is the cause of the majority of HIV infections globally. The lower infectivity of HIV-2 compared to HIV-1 implies that fewer of those exposed to HIV-2 will be infected per exposure. Because of its relatively poor capacity for transmission, HIV-2 is largely confined to West Africa.³

Pathophysiology of AIDS:

Human immunodeficiency virus belongs to lentivirus subgroup of the family Retroviridae.HIV is spherical enveloped virus about 90-120 nm in size. The nucleocapsid has an outer icosahedral shell and an inner coneshaped core, enclosing the ribonucleoproteins. The genome is diploid composed of two identical single stranded positive sense RNA copies in association with viral RNA in the reverse transcriptase enzyme is characteristics feature of retrovirus.

When the virus infects a cell the viral RNA is transcribed by the enzyme, first into single stranded DNA and then to double stranded DNA which is integrated into host cell chromosome. The major virus coded envelope proteins are the projecting knob like spikes on the surface and the anchoring transmembrane pedicles. The spikes constitutes the major surface component of the virus which binds to the CD₄ receptors on susceptible host cell. HIV destroys CD₄ cells — a specific type of white blood cell that plays a large role in helping the body to fight disease. Infected T4 cells do not appear to release normal amounts of Interleukin-2, Gamma-interferon and other lymphokinins. This has a marked dampening effect on cell mediated immune response. In this way, it weakens the immune response⁴.

Causes

Scientists believe a virus similar to HIV first occurred in some populations of chimps and monkeys in Africa, where they're hunted for food. Contact with an infected monkey's blood during butchering or cooking may have allowed the virus to cross into humans and become HIV.

Transmission of HIV

To become infected with HIV, infected blood, semen or vaginal secretions must enter your body. You can't become infected through ordinary contact hugging, kissing, dancing or shaking hands with someone who has HIV or AIDS. HIV can't be transmitted through the air, water or via insect bites.

You can become infected with HIV in several ways, including:

During sex. You may become infected if you have vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected partner whose blood, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. The virus can enter your body through mouth sores or small tears that sometimes develop in the rectum or vagina during sexual activity.

Blood transfusions. In some cases, the virus may be transmitted through blood transfusions. American hospitals and blood banks now screen the blood supply for HIV antibodies, so this risk is very small.

Sharing needles. HIV can be transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood. Sharing intravenous drug paraphernalia puts you at high risk of HIV and other infectious diseases such as hepatitis.

From mother to child. Infected mothers can infect their babies during pregnancy or delivery, or through breast-feeding. But if women receive treatment for HIV infection during pregnancy, the risk to their babies is significantly reduced.⁴

Symptoms

The symptoms of HIV and AIDS vary, depending on the phase of infection.

Primary Infection

The majority people infected by HIV develop a flu-like illness within a month or two after the virus enters the body. This illness, known as primary or acute HIV infection, may last for a few weeks. Possible symptoms include:

 Fever

 Muscle soreness

 Rash

 Headache

 Sore throat

 Mouth or genital ulcers

 Swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck

 Joint pain

 Night sweats

Although the symptoms of primary HIV infection may be mild enough to go unnoticed, the amount of virus in the blood stream (viral load) is particularly high at this time. As a result, HIV infection spreads more efficiently during primary infection than during the next stage of infection.

Clinical latent infection

In some people, persistent swelling of lymph nodes occurs during clinical latent HIV. Otherwise, there are no specific signs and symptoms. HIV remains in the body, however, as free virus and in infected white blood cells.

Clinical latent infection typically lasts 8 to 10 years. A few people stay in this stage even longer, but others progress to more-severe disease much sooner.

Early symptomatic HIV infection

As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic symptoms such as:

 Fever

 Fatigue

 Swollen lymph nodes

 Diarrhoea

 Weight loss

 Cough and shortness of breath

Progression to AIDS

If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infectious diseases that wouldn't trouble a person with a healthy immune system. The signs and symptoms may include. ^4.

 Soaking night sweats

 Shaking chills or fever higher than 100⁰ F (38⁰ C) for several weeks

Cough and shortness of breath

 Chronic diarrhoea

 Persistent white spots or unusual lesions on your tongue or in your mouth

 Headaches

 Persistent, unexplained fatigue

 Blurred and distorted vision

 Weight loss⁴

Tests and diagnosis

HIV is most commonly diagnosed by testing your blood or saliva for the presence of antibodies to the virus. Unfortunately, these types of HIV tests aren't accurate immediately after infection because it takes time for your body to develop these antibodies usually up to 12 weeks. In rare cases, it can take up to six months for an HIV antibody test to become positive.

A newer type of test checks for HIV antigen, a protein produced by the virus immediately after infection. This test can confirm a diagnosis within days of infection. An earlier diagnosis may prompt people to take extra precautions to prevent transmission of the virus to others.

Tests to tailor treatment

If you receive a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, several types of tests can help your doctor determine what stage of the disease you have. These tests include:

 CD₄ count: CD₄ cells are a type of white blood cell that are specifically targeted and destroyed by HIV. A healthy person's CD4 count can vary from 500 to more than 1,000. Even if a person has no symptoms, HIV infection progresses to AIDS when his or her CD₄ count becomes less than 200.

 Viral load: This test measures the amount of virus in your blood. Studies have shown that people with higher viral loads generally fare more poorly than do those with a lower viral load.

 Drug resistance: This type of test determines if your strain of HIV is resistant to any anti-HIV medications.

Tests for complications

Your doctor might also order lab tests to check for other infections or complications, including:

 Tuberculosis

 Hepatitis

 Toxoplasmosis

 Sexually transmitted diseases

 Liver or kidney damage

 Urinary tract infections⁴

Treatments using synthetic drug

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but a variety of drugs can be used in combination to control the virus. Each of the classes of anti-HIV drugs blocks the virus in different ways. It's best to combine at least three drugs from two different classes to avoid creating strains of HIV that are immune to single drugs. The classes of anti-HIV drugs include:

 Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). NNRTIs disable a protein needed by HIV to make copies of itself. Examples include efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence) and nevirapine (Viramune).

 Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NRTIs are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make copies of itself. Examples include Abacavir (Ziagen), and the combination drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir (Truvada), and lamivudine and zidovudine (Combivir).

 Protease inhibitors (PIs). PIs disable protease, another protein that HIV needs to make copies of itself. Examples include atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva) and ritonavir (Norvir).

 Entry or fusion inhibitors. These drugs block HIV's entry into CD4 cells. Examples include enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) and maraviroc (Selzentry).

 Integrase inhibitors. Raltegravir (Isentress) works by disabling integrase, a protein that HIV uses to insert its genetic material into CD4 cells.⁵

Herbal medicine also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine refers to using a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of using conventional medicine. It is becoming more mainstream as improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research show the value of herbal medicine in the treating and preventing disease. The use of herbal supplements has increased dramatically over the past 30 years and are most preferred.

The most commonly used herbal supplements in the U.S. include^10-15 echinacea (Echinacea purpurea and related species), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), garlic (Allium sativum), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), ginseng (Panax ginseng, or Asian ginseng; and Panax quinquefolius, or American ginseng), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), ginger (Zingiber officinale), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), and milk thistle (Silybum marianum).⁶

Often, herbs may be used together because the combination is more effective and may have fewer side effects. Health care providers must take many factors into account when recommending herbs, including the species and variety of plant, plant habitat.

Herbal Drugs

GINGER

Figure no: 2 Ginger

Biological name: Zingiber officinale

Synonym: Zingiber, Zingiberis

Biological source: It consists of rhizome of Zingiber officinale

Family: Zingiberaceae

Geographical source: Mainly found in South East Asia, but is cultivated in islands, Africa, Australia and India.

Cultivation: Ginger is ready for harvesting in about six months, when its leaves becomes yellow. Harvesting of ginger is done by digging the rhizomes. They are washed properly and then dried to improve the colour and to prevent its further growth. The rhizomes are scrapped and dried out, coated inert material like calcium sulphate. The yield of 1500 kg per hector of green ginger is possible by cultivation.

Macroscopical characteristics:

Colour: Buff coloured

Odour: Agreeable and Aromatic

Taste: Agreeable and pungent

General description: It is dark brown, aromatic and punent viscous liquid.

Chemical constituent: Ginger consist of volatile oil(1-4%), Starch, fat, fibre inorganic material(6%), residual moisture and acrid resinous matter. Ginger oil is constituted of monoterpene hydrocarbon, Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, oxygenated mono and sesquiterpenes, and phenyl propanoids. Various active compounds found in neem responsible for its various healing properties are isoprenoids (diterpenoids and triterpenoid), limonoids, azadirone, gedunin, vilasinin, nimbin, salanin and azadirachtin. The non-isoprenoids include proteins, carbohydrates, sulphurous compounds, polyphenolics, dihydrochalcone, coumarin and tannins, aliphatic compounds, etc.

Uses: The bark, seeds and leaves of the plant contain compounds with proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti cancer and antifungal, HIV uses. Also used as stomachic, an aromatic carminative, stimulant and flavouring agent.

NEEM

Figure no: 3 Neem

Biological name: Azadiracta Indica

Synonym: Neem, Kadunimb, Melia azadirachta L.

Biological source: It consists of all aerial parts of plant known as Azadirachta indica.

Family: Meliaceae

Geographical source: Mainly found in South East Asia, but is cultivated in islands, Africa, Australia and India.

Cultivation: Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach up to 15–20 m (about 50–65 feet) tall, and sometimes even to 35–40 m (115–131 feet). It is evergreen, but in serious drought it may lose most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are spread far apart.

The neem tree is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 100 feet and is covered with vibrant green leaves. In the spring months the neem tree produces small white flowers which will produce an edible fruit. The trunk is covered with a rough bark and grows extremely straight which adds to the overall appearance of the tree's height. Neem trees can be propagated by taking a cutting of a young, green branch and placing it in some soil with rooting hormone on the tip of the cutting

A neem tree normally starts fruiting after 3-5 years. In about 10 years it becomes fully productive. Under favourable conditions fresh fruit yield per fully grown tree is about 50 kg per year. Present level of collection is far below 50% which shows the potential for additional employment and income generation. If commercial plantation and agro-forestry involving neem in popularized, the potential goes up significantly, with positive and large externalities for pesticides, fertilizers, livestock, dairying and other value-added products. of green ginger is possible by cultivation.

Macroscopical characteristics:

Colour: Green coloured plant

Odour: Aromatic and pungent

Taste: Bitter

General description: Neem, or Azadirachta indica, was originally grown in India where its bark, leaves and the juice from its seeds are widely used as a part of traditional ayurvedic health care. In india, neem is considered to be an almost universal treatment^.

Chemical constituent: Nimbin, nimbidine, nimbinin, nimbidol are mainly present in neem having bitter principles. Azadiractin is the new terpenoid has been isolated from seed kernals of neem.

MOA: Taking 30 to 60 mg of neem bark extract twice daily for up to 10 weeks may improve the symptoms of ulcers and promote healing with no adverse effects, but additional research is required on neem helping treatment of AIDS.

Uses: Neem act as anti bacterial, anti parasitic, anti fungal, anti protozoal and anti viral thus helps in protection from all the microorganisms, which are always ready to invade in our body causing serious ailments. It is mainly use for AIDS disease^7.

ASHWAGANDHA

Figure no.4 Ashwagandha

Synonym- Withania root, Asgandh, winter cherry.

B.S-It consists of dried root and stem bases of Withania somnifera.

G.S-It occur in south Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Jordan.

Cultivation-Now-a-days, the cultivation is mainly done in Madhya Pradesh, where about 2000 hectares are under cultivation .The propagation is done by seeds, for which for which about 4-5 kg of seeds are required per hectare. The seeds are sown in the soil which is unsuitable for other crops. The sowing is done towards June-July and during growth, no special arrangements are made for irrigation. Even the nitrogenous fertilizers lead to formation of small roots, but large foliage. Towards December or January, the plants bear flowers and fruits and during January, harvesting is initiated which lasts upto March. The roots are collected by uprooting the plant and either entire roots or the pieces there of are dried immediately.

Microscopical characteristics-

Colour-buff to grey yellow

Taste-bitter

Shape-straight and conical.

Chemical Constituents-The main constituents of aswagandha are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Among the various alkaloids, withanine is the main constituents. The other alkaloids are somniferine, somnine, somniferinine, withananine, pseudo-withanine, tropine, pseudo tropine, 3-α-glOyloxytropane, choline, cuscohygrine, isopelletierine, anaferine,and anahydrine. Two acyl steryl glucoside sitoindoside and sitoindoside have been isolated from roots. The leaves contain steroidal lactone, which are commonly called as withanolids.

Uses-

 Ashwagandha is one of the wonder herbs in Ayurvedic medicine.

 Ashwagandha has been widely used as sex stimulant.

 Ashwagandha can be used by both men and women, Ashwagandha acts to calm the mind and promote sound, restful sleep.

 Ashwagandha helps the body to tackle various types of stress.

 Ashwagandha is a revitalizing herb that maintains proper nourishment of the tissues.

 Ashwagandha increases resistance to stress.

 Ashwagandha also used in diabetes, and premature aging.

 Ashwagandha root contains the best nutrients for hypothyroidism.⁷

ALOE VERA

Figure no: 5 Aloe Vera

Biological name: Aloe vera

Synonym: Aloe, Kumari, Musabbar.

Biological source: Aloes is the dried juice of the leaves of Aloe babadensis Miller, known as Curacao aloes; or of Aloe perryi baker, known as socotrine aloes.

Family: Liliaceae

Geographical source: Mainly cultivated in island, Europe, and many parts of India including north west Himalayan region.

Cultivation: For the cultivation, root suckers are used for propagation. The plants grow even in poor grades of soils and in dry climatic conditions. The root suckers are planted in a rows about 50cm apart. Water logging near the plants must be prevented. The roots do not penetrate into the soil. For the purpose of manure, a mixture of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is used. The leaves are cut into first instance in second year of cultivation and the drug is obtained from leaves for twelve years. Then plants are completely harvested by uprooting and once again the land is worked for replantation. During the collection of leaves, a cut is given to leaves near their bases, by which the juice is located in parenchymatous cells of pericycle exudes out, due to pressure exerted by mucilage cells. A single incision is sufficient for drawing out all the juice from entire system of pericyclic cells.

Macroscopical characteristics:

Colour: Green externally, white internally.

Odour: odourless

Taste: bitter

General description: Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each flower being pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long. Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.

Chemical constituent: It is the major source of anthraquinone glycoside. The principle active constituent of aloe is aloin, which is mixture of glucosides, among which barbaloin is the chief constituent. It is chemically aloe-emodin anthrone C-10 glucoside and it is water soluble. Along with barbaloin, aloes also contains isobarbloin, beta barbaloin aloe emodin and resin. The resin of aloe principally contains Aloesin. It is type of a C-Glucosyl chromome.

Mechanism of actions

1. Effects on skin exposure to UV and gamma radiation: Aloe vera gel has been reported to have a protective effect against radiation damage to the skin. Exact role is not known, but following the administration of aloe vera gel, an antioxidant protein, metallothionein, is generated in the skin, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals and prevents suppression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the skin.

2. Anti-inflammatory action: Aloe vera inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway and reduces prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid. Recently, the novel anti-inflammatory compound called C-glucosyl chromone was isolated from gel extracts.

3. Effects on the immune system: Alprogen inhibit calcium influx into mast cells, thereby inhibiting the antigen antibody mediated release of histamine and leukotriene from mast cells. In a study on mice that had previously been implanted with murine sarcoma cells, acemannan stimulates the synthesis and release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor from macrophages in mice, which in turn initiated an immune attack that resulted in necrosis and regression of the cancerous cells. Several low molecular weight compounds are also capable of inhibiting the release of reactive oxygen free radicals from activated human neutrophils.

4. Laxative effects: Anthraquinones present in latex are a potent laxative. It increases intestinal water content actions may be due to indirect or direct effects. Indirect effect is due to stimulation of the immune system and direct effect is due to anthraquinones. The anthraquinone aloin inactivates various enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex, varicella zoster and influenza.

5. Moisturizing and anti-aging effect: Mucopolysaccharides help in binding moisture into stimulates mucus secretion and increases intestinal peristalsis.

6. Antiviral and antitumor activity: Aloe stimulates fibroblast which produces the collagen and elastin fibers making the skin more elastic and less wrinkled. It also has cohesive effects on the superficial flaking epidermal cells by sticking them together, which softens the skin. The amino acids also soften hardened skin cells and zinc acts as an astringent to tighten pores. Its moisturizing effects has also been studied in treatment of dry skin associated with occupational exposure where aloe vera gel gloves improved the skin integrity, decreases appearance of fine wrinkle and decreases erythema. It also has anti-acne effect.

7. Antiseptic effect: Aloe vera contains 6 antiseptic agents: Lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamonic acid, phenols and sulfur. They all have inhibitory action on fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Uses:

The clinical use of aloe vera is supported mostly by anecdotal data. Though most of these uses are interesting, controlled trials are essential to determine its effectiveness in all the following diseases.

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven.

Conditions: Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris, genital herpes, skin burns, diabetes (type 2), HIV infection, cancer prevention, ulcerative colitis wound healing (results of aloe on wound healing are mixed with some studies reporting positive results and others showing no benefit or potential worsening ), pressure ulcers, mucositis, radiation dermatitis, acne vulgaris, lichen planus, frostbite, aphthous stomatitis, and constipation.^8.

SUDERLANDIA FRUTESCENS

Figure no-6 Suderlandia frutescens

Synoname - Insiswa, unwele, phetola, kankerbos.

Family - Fabacea.

G.S - Africa

Chemical constituents

An important constituent of the plant is a nor-lignan glycoside called hypoxoside, which once in human gut, readily converts to the aglycone, rooperol, a biologically active compound that is purported to have medicinal properties. The plant also contains various sterols and their glycosides (sterolins) such as sitosterol glycoside and stanols such as sitostanol also called stigmastanol, which have also been purported to have important biological activity .

Uses - Suderlandia frutescens tablet used as a tonic by AIDS patient, resulted in an improvement of mood appetite, weight gain. In a review of available evidence for the value of Hypoxis and Suderlandia in treating HIV.^10.

Other Herbal drug used for the treatment of AIDS

Antioxidant: There is evidence suggesting that patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are under chronic oxidative stress. People infected with HIV may benefit from antioxidant vitamins.

Green Tea -- Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), one of the components of green tea has been suggested to have antiviral activity. To determine the effects of EGCG on HIV infection, peripheral blood lymphocytes infected with HIV were incubated with increasing concentrations of EGCG. EGCG strongly inhibited the replication of the HIV virus.

Glutamine, the amino acid, could be helpful for those on anti-HIV medicines. Glutamine-antioxidant nutrient supplementation can increase body weight, body cell mass, and intracellular water when compared with placebo in HIV patients.

Mangosteen is sold at Physician Formulas.

Hyssop has antiviral activity against herpes simplex and HIV-1.
Licorice may be helpful.

Olive Leaf extract has anti-HIV activity

Rooibos tea has anti-HIV activity.

Echinacea herb may be of some benefit.

Ginseng-- CD4+Tcell counts in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients are maintained or even increased when treated with Korean red ginseng. High doses of ginseng can be overly stimulating and cause insomnia.
Catuaba, an Amazonian plant, has anti-HIV activity.
Bovine Colostrum may reduce the severity of diarrhea in HIV patients.

Marigold herb

Fish Oils - Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid) diet supplements appear to be an effective way to lower high triglyceride levels that are associated with antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients. HIV therapies and HIV itself can cause concerning increased in triglycerides, which may place the individual at risk for cardiovascular disease. Fish oil has been found in people without HIV infection to reduce triglycerides and also to prevent cardiovascular disease. It's probably best not to exceed 3 capsules a day.
Zinc for children with HIV.⁹

CONCLUSION:

There is insufficient evidence to support the use of herbal medicines in HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients. Potential beneficial effects need to be confirmed in large, rigorous trials.

Several plant extracts and their constituents possess activity against sexually transmitted diseases indicating their huge potential as an effective measure for prevention and treatment of STDs including AIDS. Plant derived microbicides and plantibodies are some of the new approaches for prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted pathogens. Herbal medicines can be developed as a safe, effective and economical alternative to drugs presently approved for symptomatic treatment of STDs and AIDS.

REFERENCE:

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5. Dr. Chandrakant R. Kokare. Pharmaceutical Microbiology: Principle and applications. Nirali Prakashan. Fifth Edition. 2008:13.1-13.24

6. Drs. Frawley. D. ‘An Ayurvedic guide to Herbal Medicine’. 1992:155-158.

7. Kokate C, Purohit A and Gokhale S. Pharmacognosy, Forty First Edition, Nirali Prakashan. 2008: 11.103, 8.23, 13.79, 20.5.

8. Surjushe A, Vasani R and Saple O. Herbal medicine for Alo-vera. Indian J Dermatol. 2008:163-166 .

9. Svoboda. R. ‘Ayurveda Life, Health and Longevity’. International Journal. 1993: 240 .

10. Kazhilac.C and Hedimbi.M. Ethnomedicinal plants and other natural products with anti-HIV active compounds. International Journal. 2010: 74-91.

11. Vermani.K and Garg.S. Herbal medicine for sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2002: 49-66.

12. Mill. E, Cooper. C, Seely. O, Kanfe. African herbal medicine in treatment of HIV. Nutritional Journal. 2005:19-30.

13. Sharma P, Sharma O, Vasudeva N, Mishra D and Sing S. Anti-HIV substance of natural origin an updated account. Natural Product Radiance. 5(1); 2006: 70-78.

14. Ping J, Macheimer E. Herbal medicine for treating HIV infection and AIDS.2009: 1-8.

15. Shi D, Peng Z .Placebo-controlled clinical study on qiankunning for HIV/AIDS. China Journal. 21; 2003:1472-1474.

Received on 26.03.2013

Modified on 18.04.2013

Accepted on 12.06.2013

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 5(5): September–October 2013, 275-282