Inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase associated activities by the hydroalcoholic extract of Casimiroa edulis seeds

ESPOSITO, FRANCESCA;ZINZULA, LUCA;MAXIA, ANDREA;TRAMONTANO, ENZO;SANNA, CINZIA

2011-01-01

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Abstract

The hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the seeds of Casimiroa edulis cultivated in Sardinia (Italy) have been assayed on the two enzymatic-associated activities of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RDDP) and the ribonuclease H. In biochemical assays, the extract inhibited both activities in a dose-dependent manner, showing a 10-fold more potent inhibition of the HIV-1 RT RDDP activity. Furthermore, the extract was cytotoxic on K562 cell replication.