Medicinal Plant and Traditional Knowledge-guided Strategies to Combat HIV Persistence

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) does not act on latent HIV reservoirs, and no latency-reversing agent (LRA) to date consistently reduces viral reservoirs in humans. In Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are traditionally used to manage HIV/AIDS, including a subset with LRA properties.

Several plants from the Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae families have been recently documented for traditional HIV/AIDS management and contain LRAs that function through protein kinase C activation. These CAM are increasingly validated in HIV-infected primary cells and humanized mice. Engagement with traditional health practitioners (THPs) which prioritizes data and benefits sharing can improve trust relations, build long-term collaborations, and advance mutual knowledge on these unique CAM. CAM used traditionally for HIV/AIDS management include LRAs already used by humans, but more study and collaboration with THPs are needed to understand their potential to support global cART-free HIV remission and cure efforts.