An antimalarial extract from neem leaves is antiretroviral

An acetone-water neem leaf extract with antimalarial activity was evaluated in vitro at 5 mug/ml for inhibition of adhesion of malaria parasite - infected erythrocytes and cancer cells to endothelial cells, and at 10 mug/ml for protection of lymphocytes against invasion by HIV. The extract was also evaluated in 10 patients with HIV/AIDS at 1000 mg daily for 30 d. The mean binding of infected erythrocytes and cancer cells per endothelial cell was 15 and 11 respectively in the absence of the extract, and 0 and 2 respectively in with the extract. In the absence and presence of the extract, 0% and 75%, respectively, of lymphocytes were protected. In the treated patients, haemoglobin concentration, mean CD4(+) cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which were initially 9.8 g/dl, 126 cells/mul and 90 mm/h respectively, improved to 12.1 g/dl, 241 cells/mul and 49 mm/h. Mean bodyweight and platelet count, initially 57 kg and 328 x 10(3)/mm(3) respectively, increased to 60 kg and 359 x 10(3)/mm(3). No adverse effects were observed during the study. The extract showed antiretroviral activity with a mechanism of action that may involve inhibition of cytoadhesion. The results may help in the development of novel antiretroviral and antimalarial drugs. (C) 2004 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.