The activities of Methanol extract, Hexane and Ethyl Acetate Fractions from Ficus fistulosa in HIV inhibition In Vitro

Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection can lower the immune system in HIV patient and makes it more vulnerable to opportunistic infection.

This study aims in provide alternative therapy since recent trends showed that there is a drug resistance therapy from existing antiretroviral treatment.

Ficus fistulosa extract were collected using methanol as a solvent. Further fractionation was done with n-hexane and other using ethyl acetate resulting in 4 fractions (F1, F2, F3, ethyl acetate). The persistently infected cells and herbal extract (7.8–1000 ppm) were co-cultured to observe the extract`s potential in inhibiting HIV replication. Toxicity assay was also performed in this study.

n-hexane fraction were showing an active inhibition to HIV replication and not toxic for healthy cells (IC50=27.2 ug/ml; CC₅₀= 377.9 ug/ml and SI =13.89). While other fraction showing potentially active compound were ethyl acetate fraction and F1 (ethyl acetate; IC₅₀=22 ug/ml; CC₅₀= 214.47 ug/ml and SI =9.75; F1; IC₅₀=17.32 ug/ml; CC₅₀= 86.8ug/ml and SI =5). The Thin Layer Chromatography result showed that n-hexane contained chlorophyl (dominant), terpenoid and flavonoid.

The n-hexane fraction was proved to be active and potential as anti-HIV. But further fractionation to separate real active compound for inhibiting HIV replication are required, to provide potential herbal therapy for anti-HIV.