Characterization of Heterogeneus Polysaccharides from Clinopodium bolivianum (Benth.) with Neutralizing Activity Against HIV-1 Infection
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Medicinal plants are widely used in bolivian folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases. We have selected one, Clinopodium bolivianum (Benth.) Kuntze, known as “Khoa”, to investigate its potential anti-HIV activity, since traditionally it has been used to treat other viral infectious diseases. We have carried out an antiviral bioassay-guided fractionation of different extracts of C. bolivianum. An antiviral crude polysaccharide was obtained, SBAS, rich in glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose and only traces of galacturonic acid. SBAS exhibited antiviral activity with a mechanism of action unrelated to the mannose-lectin DC-SIGN receptors but with a strong viral neutralization activity. In summary, a purified polysaccharide from C. bolivianum have been identified as the main compound responsible of its antiviral activity. SBAs proved to be a neutralizing agent with high antiviral capacity in vitro, so it could be part of new microbicide formulations to prevent HIV transmission.