Bananas Can Prevent HIV?
by Research experts point out, the banana has a substance that could potentially be a barrier to HIV infection. These findings are expected to open a new window on preventive therapy for HIV infection has yet found a cure.
Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School are interested in the lectin, a chemical that occurs naturally in plants, because of its ability to stop the chain reaction of various types of infections. Laboratory test results showed, BanLec, lectin found in bananas, as effective as anti-HIV drugs at this time.
A new way to stop the spread of HIV is absolutely necessary. Current rate of new HIV infections exceeds the number of individuals who received antiretroviral drugs, namely 2.5 to 1. In fact, there are no signs of an HIV vaccine will be available in the near future.
Today the use of condoms is still so prevention of HIV transmission is most effective when used consistently and correctly. Another way of effective prevention is to prevent transmission through the vagina and rectum using a drug that can prevent HIV entry into target cells.
Research conducted by researchers from Michigan University shows how the lectins that can recognize invaders from outside the body, such as viruses, and attack him as a pathogen, can be developed to identify the HIV virus.
Besides having the same potential with the anti-HIV drugs currently available, the banana lectin also cheaper to produce a drug that can reach the wider community. Lectin from the banana is believed to be more effective if used in a preventive medicine component of the virus that dioles the genitals or anus.
“The problems faced by anti-HIV drugs is the ability of the virus to mutate and become resistant. However, it can be prevented by the lectin. Lectins can be attached to the sugar found in various points of the cover of the HIV-1 and is estimated to need multiple mutations for the virus to get it, “said Erwin J Goldstein, PhD, professor of biological chemistry.
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