Work

Anti-HIV-1 potential of Tinospora cordifolia extracts: Multi-targeted viral inhibition and immune landscape modulation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background and aim: (TC), an Ayurvedic Rasayana herb, holds immense promise as a phytotherapeutic alternative owing to its dual antiviral and immunomodulatory potential. This study investigated the anti-HIV-1 efficacy and the mechanistic basis of TC extracts. Experimental procedure: using TZM-bl cells and primary human PBMCs infected with HIV-1 primary isolates. Antiviral activity, cytotoxicity, viral enzyme inhibition, and immunomodulatory effects were assessed through luciferase assays, ELISA, qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and cytokine profiling. Molecular docking was performed to identify bioactive phytoconstituents targeting key HIV-1 enzymes. Results and conclusion: Both TC extracts exhibited potent, dose-dependent anti-HIV-1 activity, with HATC showing superior efficacy. HATC inhibited HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase, suppressed GAG (Group-specific Antigen), TAT (Trans-Activator of Transcription), and p24 expression, and modulated macrophage cytokine profiles by controlling IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β. Notably, HATC may upregulate Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING)-Interferon beta (IFN-β) signalling, suggesting enhanced innate antiviral defence. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of columbin, tinosporide, and tinosporaside with HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase. Experimental validation confirmed that columbin demonstrated potent anti-HIV-1 activity. This is the first comprehensive study to demonstrate that TC extract exerts multi-targeted inhibition of HIV-1 replication and restores immune balance. These findings support its development as a novel adjunct phytotherapy for HIV-1 and warrant further pre-clinical investigation.

Source: Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2026.06.003