Washington: A new study has found that extracts of the geranium plant Pelargonium sidoides inactivate human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) and prevent the virus from invading human cells.

Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen report that these extracts represent a potential new class of anti-HIV-1 agents for the treatment of AIDS.

They demonstrated that root extracts of the medicinal plant Pelargonium sidoides (PS) contain compounds that attack HIV-1 particles and prevent virus replication.

A team spearheaded by Dr. Markus Helfer and Prof. Dr. Ruth Brack-Werner from the Institute of Virology and Prof. Dr. Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin from the Analytical BioGeoChe, mistry research unit (BGC) performed a detailed investigation of the effects of PS extracts on HIV-1 infection of cultured cells.

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