Natural Product with Potent Anti HIV Activity

Natural Products play an important role in the management of HIV/AID, especially in developing countries where resources are meager. The urgent need for new anti-HIV/AIDS drugs is a global concern. In addition to obvious economical and commercial hurdles, HIV/AIDS patients are faced with multifarious difficulties associated with the currently approved anti-HIV drugs. The large number of natural product described (42 spp.) clearly demonstrate the importance of natural product that could assist in the prevention and/or amelioration of the HIV/AIDS disease. The natural product discussed includes: alkaloids (8 spp.), glycosides (7 spp.), flavonoids (8 spp.), coumarins (4 spp.), polysaccharides (2 spp.), proteins (5 spp.), tannins (2 spp.), lignins (2 spp.), polyphenols (3 spp.), and miscellaneous (1 spp.) which may delay the development of HIV complication and the metabolic disorder. The aim of this review is to report new discoveries and updates pertaining to anti-HIV natural products. Moreover during the past few years some of the few bioactive drugs isolated from anti HIV plant showed anti HIV activity with more efficacy. Some of these natural products have already entered clinical trial.