Anti-HIV protease activity from rosa family plant extracts and rosamultin from Rosa rugosa.

To identify substances with anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity from plant sources, 12 extracts of Rosa family plants were screened for their inhibitory effects against HIV-1 protease. Of the extracts tested, the strongest inhibitory effects were observed in the root of Rosa rugosa and the leaves of Prunus sargentii, at a concentration of 100 microg/mL. Rosamultin isolated from the root of R. rugosa inhibited HIV-1 protease by 53% at a concentration of 100 microM.