Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Herbal Preparations on Outcomes of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the impacts of two herbal preparations for human immunodeficiency virus/aquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients, Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (参灵扶正胶囊, SLFZC) and Qingdu Capsule (清毒胶囊, QDC), on the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods

HIV/AIDS patients met the criteria were all enrolled in a 1-year cohort study, in which patients receiving HAART alone were designated as Group A, those receiving HAART in combination with SLFZC were designated as Group B, and those receiving HAART in combination with QDC were designated as Group C, 100 cases in each group. The dose of SLFZC was 1.48 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily, and QDC 1.56 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily. T cell subsets, HIV RNA and HIV-1 drug resistance were detected at enrollment and 1 year after treatment. Patients were followed up every 3 months, during which side-effects and other clinical data were recorded.

Results

After 1-year treatment, the median increment in CD4 counts was 165.0, 178.0 and 145.0 cells/μL for Group A, B and C, respectively. HIV RNA was undetectable in 94% of patients in Group A, 96% in Group B and 92% in Group C. There were no differences regarding the increment in CD4 counts, HIV RNA and frequency of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations. Two of the 14 suspected side-effect symptoms, i.e. fatigue and dizziness, were lower in Groups B and C than in Group A (P<0.05, respectively)

Conclusions

SLFZC and QDC do not have a negative impact on immunological and virological response to HAART; however, these preparations are not as potent in reducing HAART-associated side-effects as anticipated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu J. The use of herbal medicines in early drug development for the treatment of HIV infections and AIDS. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2007;16:1355–1364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chinsembu KC. Ethnobotanical study of plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS-related diseases in Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2016;2016:4238625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Liu JP, Manheimer E, Yang M. Herbal medicines for treating HIV infection and AIDS. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;20:CD003937.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zou W, Liu Y, Wang J, Li H, Liao X. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines for treating HIV infections and AIDS. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:950757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. van den Bout-van den Beukel CJ, Koopmans PP, van der Ven AJ, De Smet PA, Burger DM. Possible drug-metabolism interactions of medicinal herbs with antiretroviral agents. Drug Metab Rev 2006;38:477–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Thomford NE, Awortwe C, Dzobo K, Adu F, Chopera D, Wonkam A, et al. Inhibition of CYP2B6 by medicinal plant extracts: implication for use of efavirenz and nevirapine-based highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in resource-limited settings. Molecules 2016;21:211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li X, Su QJ, Liang J, Deng X. Research on curative effect and safety of intervening asymptomatic HIV infection with traditional Chinese medicine. China J Tradit Chin Med Pharm (Chin) 2015;30:3520–3523.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Su QJ, Li YZ, Wu WQ, Lu ZZ, Zhang YP, Liu ZW, et al. Treating HIV/AIDS patients by Shenlin Fuzheng Capsule and Qingdu Capsule: an analysis of clinical effectiveness. Chin J Integr Tradit West Med (Chin) 2013;33:1476–1480.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wen B, Li XJ, Liu ZW, Li X, Jiang F, Deng X. Exploration on influence of Shenling Fuzheng Capsule on patients with AIDS/HIV and chronic diarrhea after HAART based on theory of “winter disease cured in summer”. Liaoning J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2016;43:2302–2304.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chen J, Zhang RF, Wang JR, Shen YZ, Liu L, Lu HZ. Efficacy and safety of highly active antiretroviral therapy combined with Tang Herb among HIV-infected patients. Shanghai Med Pharm J (Chin) 2014;35:17–19.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yang JM, Ip SP, Xian Y, Zhao M, Lin ZX, Yeung JH, et al. Impact of the herbal medicine Sophora flavescens on the oral pharmacokinetics of indinavir in rats: the involvement of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein. PLoS One 2012;7:e31312.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang Y, Huang L, Bi H, Cui Y, Li J, Wang X, et al. Study of the upregulation of the activity of cytochrome P450 3A isoforms by Astragalus injection and Astragalus granules in rats and in cells. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2013;38:105–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Mrs. SHI De-xian and Mrs. LIANG Ai-hua for their assistance in sample collections. We are also grateful to Dr. LI Jie-liang from Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine for the language editing of our manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530011, China

    Qi-jian Su, Ce Song, Zhen-zhen Lu, Zhen-wei Liu & Fa-sheng Wu

  2. Department of Chronic Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control, Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Nanning, 530028, China

    Zhen-zhen Lu

  3. School of Basic Medical Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530200, China

    Jian Xiao

  4. Department of Oncology, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530011, China

    Fa-sheng Wu

Authors
  1. Qi-jian Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ce Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhen-zhen Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhen-wei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jian Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fa-sheng Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Su QJ performed the investigation and HIV drug resistance testing, and drafted the manuscript. Wu FS and Song C conceived and designed the study. Lu ZZ and Liu ZW recruited the patients, collected their clinical data and laboratory data about T cell subsets and HIV RNA. Xiao J reviewed the literature and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fa-sheng Wu.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81360258, 81260463) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (No. 2014GXNSFAA118175)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Su, Qj., Song, C., Lu, Zz. et al. Impact of Herbal Preparations on Outcomes of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 26, 497–501 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3156-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3156-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation