European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NEEM EXTRACT: A POTENTIAL HERBAL REMEDY FOR TREATING HIV

*Pallavi K. Urade and Snehal V. Pimpalshende

ABSTRACT

AIDS is a condition characterized by the development of life-threatening opportunistic infection or malignancies in a patient with severe depression of the T-cell mediated immune system caused by infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV). There are currently over 34 million people worldwide infected with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) with 15,000 new patients infected each day. India has an estimated 5.2 million HIV-infected people. The threat to their life is not from the virus alone. Opportunistic infections (OIs) and associated complications account for a considerable proportion of such mortality. The breakdown of body immune system is the hallmark of HIV infection. Infections which are rarely seen in those with normal immune systems are deadly to those with HIV. The effect of HIV on the immune system is monitored by measuring the CD4 (T-helper) lymphocyte count in the blood. Depletion of CD4 cell count is a hallmark of disease progression in AIDS. OIs are caused by various pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. Many of the antibiotics used in management of bacterial infections are experiencing increased resistance posing enormous public health concern. Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human science from the dawn of civilization. In India they form the backbone of several indigenous traditional medicines. Medicinal plants are various plants used in herbalism and thought by some to have medicinal properties. Plants have a great potential for producing new drugs for human benefit.

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