THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TANNIN EXTRACTED FROM MUTAMBA IN INHIBITING OF THE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE OF HIV VIRUS

 

 

By: Dr. Paul Antonio Rodrigues Gouveia

 

 

The Tannin is the substantiates that containing the Mutamba tree, this barrier crosses the cytoplasmic cells, then reaches the HIV virus, even in distant places like the lymph nodes or the brain itself.

 

 

The Tannin is an inhibitor of the reverse transcriptase, It acts before incorporation of the viral genetic material from host chromosome and inhibitors of protease, which acting later in this step, and prevents formation of virions (in microbiology and biology is called virion, a morphologically complete and infectious viral particle.  It is composed of viral nucleic acid: which can be DNA or RNA, only one of them, double or single-stranded) with functional proteins, namely infectious virus.

 

 

Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase prevent the virus can change its genetic code in DNA-RNA, the required operation to multiply within cells.

 

 

Several natural compounds are used in studies of the inhibition of retroviral reverse transcriptase of the HIV virus into cells, among them are the tannins, phenolic compounds, these are characterized by their ability to combine with proteins or other polymers such as polysaccharides.

 

 

The extracted substrate Mutamba tree is a tannin that has a low molecular weight, it is a completely natural compound.

 

 

This tannin molecules were tested with the aim of discovering an effective drug against HIV.  Previously researcher Robert E. Kilkuskie and several of his research collaborators observed in inhibitory activity from Gallotaninos, only on toxic concentrations, ellagitannins and condensed tannins inhibit viral replication and in this case the complex tannins have shown potent activity against HIV replication. They concluded that an anti-HIV activity exhibited by tannins is due to inhibition of reverse transcriptase, thus hindering viral replication.

 

 

View ( http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4615-3414-3_4 )

 

 

This justifies the high relevance of research on tannin with a lower molecular weight of common tannins and lower toxicity.

 

 

Tannin on the Mutamba several tests were performed and other inhibiting this with the help of Kyolab Laboratories and the UFRJ, that were initially 30 percent, the tests were done by Dr. Amilcar Tanure, Project partner, Dr. Amilcar Tanure held several retest in vitro in which already gave 100 percent inhibition without cellular cytotoxicity.

 

 

Properties of tannins are linked to their ability to form complex proteins involved in tissue protection, compared to microbiological attacks.  In addition, the gustatory properties grouped under the term of astringency, Tannin has anti-free radicals and is able to consume the energy of dissolved oxygen, ie, have interesting pharmacological properties and antioxidant properties also show potent activity against HIV replication.

 

 

For all these reasons has been shown in scientific laboratory efficiency Tannin Mutamba as excellent inhibitor of reverse transcriptase in viral replication (an enzyme that polymerizes DNA molecules from RNA molecules, often the opposite of what happens in cells) of the HIV  with minimal risk of cell toxicity.