Resistance against HIV with royal tree roots

Several studies by the AIDS Institute (US) have shown that chemicals extracted from royal plants help immune cells maintain their anti-HIV function longer.

Like all other types of cells, immune cells lose their ability to divide when they are ' old ' because part of their chromosomes called telomeres keep getting shorter as cells divide. As a result, cells are altered in many ways and their ability to resist diseases also decreases.

Rita Effros, a professor of pathology and biomedical at UCLA Medical School, a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute, said: The study opens a huge potential for supplementation, even replacing the method of treatment. antiretroviral therapy (ie the virus containing DNA can convert its genetic material into DNA in host cells), even replacing the HAART method (highly active antiviral therapy) .

But the research by the AIDS Institute, UCLA (University of California, in Los Angeles, USA) shows that the chemicals in the Astragalus membranaceus are often used in Oriental medicine, can prevent or do slowing down the telomerisation process and that is the key to this plant being able to fight HIV.

The telomer is the part at the end of the chromosome cell, containing DNA but not the gene, which protects the ends of the chromosomes and prevents them from sticking together - quite like the pieces The plastic at the ends keeps the rope from dropping off the shoes.

Each time the cell divides, the telomer becomes shorter, causing the cells to reach an indivisible stage, called a replicative senescence. That proves that the cell has come to an end; however, in practice, it will change into another cell with new genetic and functional characteristics.

A large number of cell division processes occur within the immune system because the system works in its own way. For example, immune cells called 'killer' T-cell CD8 ('killer CD8 T-cell') help fight infection with unique receptors that receive specific antigens. When a virus enters the body, the killer 'T' receptor recognizes the virus, immediately the cell, by dividing, creates its new version to counteract the "invader." '.

In general, the cellular telomeres are long enough to divide many times without any problems. In addition, to combat infection, T cells can turn into an enzyme called telomerase, preventing the telomeres from shortening.

'The problem is that when we have to deal with a completely irreversible virus from the body, such as HIV, T cells cannot sustain their telomerase form,' said Professor Effros. ,

'They will be disabled, the telomer will be shortened and enter the stage of' aging '.

Rhubarb tree roots - herbs proved to be the main weapon against HIV.(Photo: Sciencedaily)

Previous studies have shown that injecting the telomerase gene into T cells can keep them from shortening, making them able to maintain their HIV function longer . However, this gene therapy has not been used in practice to treat millions of people currently living with HIV.

In this study, researchers have not mentioned gene therapy but only one chemical called TAT2 , extracted from the root of a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. Using this substance, they improved telomerase activity in other cell types.

The team tested TAT2 in many ways. First of all, they exposed CD8 T cells from HIV-infected people to contact TAT2 to see if the chemical worked to slow down telomerase's shortening, improving the production of harmonic factors. Cellular dissolution is called chemokin and cytokine, blocking HIV replication. As expected, TAT2 has both of these effects.

Later, the scientists took blood samples from HIV-infected people, separated CD8 T cells and coexist CD4 T cells. They treated CD8 T cells with TAT2 and combined them with CD4 T cells. They found that the processed CD8 cells worked to prevent the production of HIV by CD4 cells.

The researchers concluded: 'The ability to enhance telomerase activity and the anti-viral effect of T-lymphocyte cells CD8 allows effective strategy recommendations to treat HIV-induced disease as well as decline. Immune and enhance resistance to other pathogenic viruses, related to some chronic diseases and old diseases'.

Hoang Ky is a tree that does not grow in Vietnam, imported from China in the North stairway. According to Oriental medicine, this root is used to treat diabetes, diuresis, bitterness, sores, edema, rheumatism, and weathering.
(According to Vo Van Chi, Vietnamese medicinal plant dictionary, 1997 Medical Publishing House)