The anti-HIV activity of flavonoids: Quercetin and Pinocembrin

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the responsible for the AIDS, “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” disease. The increase of viral strains that are resistant to the currently available antiretroviral drugs is a threat to the success of current HIV treatment and emphasizes the importance of developing novel anti-HIV compounds. Flavonoids such as Quercentin and Pinocenbrin are natural compounds that belongs a large family of over 4000 secondary plant metabolites and some studies have been demonstrate that they have many pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-virus. This in vitro study evaluated the toxicity and the anti-HIV activity on TZM-bl cell (n = 12). Quercetin and Pinocembrin (50 – 500µM) and HIV-1 BaL (253 ng/ml of p24) were added into a TZM-bl cell culture (1 × 10⁵ cell), as a controls were used 60µM of AZT and Vehicle (DMSO 1%). After 48 hours, the toxicity was evaluated on TZM-bl cell using quantification of cell viability and the anti-HIV activity was determined using the luciferase protein. Quercentin and Pinocembrin showed toxicity effect (LD 50%) at 104.05µM and 194.72µM respectively. The anti-HIV activity (IC 50%) of Quercentin and Pinocembrin was 57.15µM and 224.72µM respectively. We concluded that Quercetin and Pinocembrin shown modest potency against HIV-1.

Acknowledgement: Supported by NIH/NCCAM (R00AT00650704)