Abstract
M.Tech.
Since its discovery in 1983, millions of people worldwide have been
infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a singlestranded
retrovirus belonging to the Lentivirinae subfamily of retroviruses
and is responsible for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
(Haslett et al, 2002). The infection results in a wide range of clinical
manifestations related to defective cell-mediated immunity (Beers and
Berkow, 1999).
At the end of the twentieth century, over 21 million individuals worldwide
had died from AIDS, over 34 million were living with the HIV infection, and
over 95% of HIV-infected persons resided in developing nations (Klatt,
2005). At present, 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV/AIDS
of which more than 26 million reside in Africa (Treatment Access, 2005). Sutherlandia frutescens, a medicinal plant from South Africa has
documented anti-cancer and antiviral activity. One of the active
compounds of this plant is L-canavanine, a cytokine-inducible nitric oxide
synthase (iNOS) inhibitor (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000). In minute doses,
the iNOS inhibitor may stimulate nitric oxide (NO) release to counteract
retrovirus replication.
This study aimed to ascertain the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 200CH
on CD4 cell counts and symptomatology in persons infected with HIV.
Study parameters involved recording of vital signs, symptomatology and
CD4 analysis at three separate consultations over a ten-week period. All
information was collected and collated for statistical or descriptive
analysis. The research study was carried out on a random sample size of twenty-six
participants, between the age of seventeen and fifty years over a period of ten weeks. Participants included both genders and had been previously
diagnosed HIV-positive. Persons using antiretroviral treatment or falling
into Category C as specified in the Centres for Disease Control
Classification (Appendix B), were excluded from the sample group.
Participants acted as own controls for the study with the use of a CD4
analysis baseline reading at the first consultation. Participants were then
assessed at mid-term (week 5) and final consultations (week 10) during
the study.
Sutherlandia frutescens 200CH, in granule form, was taken sublingually
once a day for two weeks, with participants then taking no medication for
three weeks until the mid-term consultation. The treatment regimen was
repeated in the second half of the study. Physical examinations to assess vital signs and opportunistic infections,
completion of a health status questionnaire and report-back sessions were
conducted at all consultations to determine a general symptomatic picture
of research participants. Blood samples taken at all consultations were
analysed for CD45+ white cell count, CD4 percentage of lymphocytes and
absolute CD4 cell count.
The McNemar test and a One Factor Repeated Measure (ANOVA) test
were used to give statistical results and to form a profile analysis.
Analysed results show that treatment with Sutherlandia frutescens 200CH
significantly improves several common signs and symptoms experienced
by HIV positive people, including oral candidiasis, fever and skin rashes; a
number of other pathologies showed improvement, but not to a statistically
significant level. The analysis of CD4 cell counts demonstrated a significant decrease of
absolute CD4 cell counts during the course of the study, even in the presence of a stable CD4 percentage. Statistical analysis also indicated a
lack of consistency in change of CD4 percentage and absolute CD4
between participants, as well as a lack of correlation between change of
CD4 percentage and absolute CD4 changes. As NO was not tested
directly no assumption can be made as to how these results might have
been influenced.
Further research into the use of Sutherlandia frutescens in the treatment
of HIV is none the less to be recommended given its reported large
number of medicinal properties and its extensive use as an herbal
supplement in HIV treatment in South Africa.