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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity
Published on: June 14, 2024
Ellagic acid inhibits HIV-1 infection in vitro: Potential role as a novel microbicide
A Promsong1, T Chuenchitra2, K Saipin2
1Faculty of Medicine, Princess of Naradhiwas University, Narathiwat, Thailand.
Objective:
To investigate the in vitro effects of ellagic acid on HIV-1 replication.
Methods:
Anti-HIV-1 activity of ellagic acid was determined in vitro using X4-tropic HIV-1NPO3 and R5-tropic pBaL Env-recombinant virus. Anti-HIV-1NPO3 activity of ellagic acid was investigated at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01. Anti-HIV-1 integrase and protease activities of ellagic acid were tested using in vitro integration and proteolytic cleavage assays.
Results:
Ellagic acid, added either before or after HIV-1NPO3 exposure, suppressed replication of the virus in C8166 cells up to 34%. Ellagic acid showed an anti-integrase IC50 of 8.7 μM. No cytotoxicity of ellagic acid at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 100 μM was observed.
Conclusion:
We conclude that ellagic acid can inhibit HIV-1 infection without cytotoxicity. Thus, it may be a new effective agent that has potential to be developed as a novel microbicide against HIV-1.
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