ABSTRACT
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a clinical syndrome that results from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes profound immunosuppression. Current therapies available for symptomatic treatment of AIDS are quite expensive. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and “UNAIDS” at the end of 2020, approximately 60 million people (55 million adults and 15 million children) were living with HIV globally, of whom about 30 million had died. Herbal medicines can be developed as safe, effective, and economical alternatives. HIV‐infected people and AIDS patients often seek complementary therapies, including herbal medicines due to reasons such as unsatisfactory effects, high cost, non‐availability, or adverse effects of conventional medicines. Herbal medicine provides rational means for the treatment of AIDS. The herbal drugs used for treatment of AIDS are Kalmegh, Betel nut, Ipecac, Turmeric, Clove, Liquorices, Cotton seed, Sarpgandha, Ashoka, and Arjuna, among others. Many compounds of plant origin inhibit HIV during various stages of viral cycle. These compounds include several alkaloids carbohydrates, coumarin, flavonoids, lignin, phenolics, proteins, quinines, xanthene, phospholipids, and tannins. These candidates have the potential to become drugs for the treatment of HIV infection. The aim of this study is to identify plants and their active principles that possess activity against human immunodeficiency virus with the objective of providing an effective approach for the prevention of transmission and treatment of these diseases. This chapter assesses the beneficial effects and risks of herbal medicines in patients with HIV infection and AIDS.
