Against this background, scientists became interested in
determining the underlying chemical structures and pharmacophores
of the compounds that are responsible for these
prominently life-prolonging observations. The traditional
medicines could be acting either by combating the
opportunistic infections seen in immune-compromised HIV
patients or alternatively by slowing the replication of the HIvirus
in the patients.
In this paper we report on research conducted on one of the
four plants used by traditional healers. We used bioassay-guided
fractionation methodologies in an attempt to isolate the active
principles through a validated HIV entry inhibitor assay
(InPheno, Basel). In particular, the structural elucidation of
two new xanthones from the tubers of Pyrenacantha
kaurabassana Baill is reported. Their anti-HIV activity as
entry inhibitors is also reported.respectively.