African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (1), pp. 047-052, 4 January 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Screening of the fruit pulp extract of Momordica balsamina for anti HIV property

BOT Y. S. AND¹ MGBOJIKWE, L. O.², CHIKA NWOSU³, ALASH’LE ABIMIKU⁴, JELPE DADIK⁵ and DEMAS DAMSHAK⁶

¹Dept. of Chemical Pathology, Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, F.C.A.H & P.T., Vom, Nigeria.

³Vaccine Production Unit, N.V.R.I; Vom , Nigeria.

⁴Institute of Human Virology, Maryland, USA.

⁵Plateau State Human Virology Research Center, Jos, Nigeria.

⁶Plateau State Human Virology Research Center, Jos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: botson2003@yahoo.com

Accepted 15 September, 2006

Anti-HIV properties of the fruit pulp extract of Momordica balsamina, a plant of the cucurbitacea  family commonly used in the Northern part of Nigeria for its anti-viral efficacy in poultry, was studied in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were prepared from both HIV sero positive and sero negative patients and categorized into group A (sero negative), group B (PBMC co-culture), group C (PBMC co-culture containing 3.12 mg/ml of the plant extract) and group D (only the enriched culture medium). The PBMCs were cultivated for 28 days using standard methods. CD4+ counts and virus detection assay (P²⁴) were determined on the PBMC. Results showed that the plant extract treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased the CD4+ count when compared to the untreated PBMC, a contrary effect was observed on the P²⁴ antigen level (P<0.05).  The implication of these findings is discussed.

Key words: Momordica balsamina, PBMC, HIV.