Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
[The influence of alternative medicine in highly active antiretroviral treatment]
M Vázquez Hernández1, M F Hurtado Gómez, J R Blanco
1Servicio de Farmacia Hospitalaria, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, La Rioja, España. mvazquez@riojasalud.es
Objective:
Over the last few years, there has been a notable increase in the use of alternative medicine by the general population. The aim of this study is two-fold. Firstly we will analyse the incidence of the use of medicinal plants in patients with HIV undergoing Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART). Secondly, with the help of existing bibliographic information, we want to study the existence of possible interactions.
Material And Methods:
We carried out a prospective study with a targeted interview (October to December 2007) on consenting patients with HIV undergoing HAART treatment.
Results:
Of the 193 patients that agreed to take part in the survey, 16.6 % confirmed they used alternative medicinal therapies. In 46 % of the cases there was a potential interaction with the effectiveness of HAART. 46 % of the potential interactions were in the case of the patients who used grapefruit as an alternative medicine, 21 % in the case of patients using thistle and Echinacea respectively, 4 % for those using omega-3, Chinese herbs and ginseng.
Conclusion:
There is a significant use of natural products by these groups of patients, of which a significant percentage interact with HAART. A better understanding of the possible interactions with HAART and improved information offered to patients with HIV is needed.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Cryptococcal Meningitis

