Trichosanthes kirilowii
Encyclopedia
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant
in the family Cucurbitaceae
. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine
, where it shares the name guālóu with the related T. rosthornii.
.
Trichosanthin was purified from fresh Chinese root tubers of Trichosanthes kirilowii and evaluated for anti-HIV activity. Trichosanthin inhibited syncytium formation between infected H9 cells and uninfected Sup-T1 cells from 0.5 to 4 [mu]g/ml. Trichosanthin also inhibited HIV replication in H9 and CEM-SS cells at 1 [mu]g/ml, but was toxic for MT-4 cells (HTLV-1-positive), at doses greater than 0.25 [mu]g/ml. This new purification procedure confirms the anti-HIV activity of trichosanthin on some cell lines in different biological assays.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the family Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
The plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
, where it shares the name guālóu with the related T. rosthornii.
Chemical components
The plant is a source of the chemical compound trichosanthinTrichosanthin
Trichosanthin is a ribosome inactivating protein.It is derived from Trichosanthes kirilowii.It is also an abortifacient....
.
Trichosanthin was purified from fresh Chinese root tubers of Trichosanthes kirilowii and evaluated for anti-HIV activity. Trichosanthin inhibited syncytium formation between infected H9 cells and uninfected Sup-T1 cells from 0.5 to 4 [mu]g/ml. Trichosanthin also inhibited HIV replication in H9 and CEM-SS cells at 1 [mu]g/ml, but was toxic for MT-4 cells (HTLV-1-positive), at doses greater than 0.25 [mu]g/ml. This new purification procedure confirms the anti-HIV activity of trichosanthin on some cell lines in different biological assays.
See also
- Chinese herbology 50 fundamental herbs
- AidsAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...