Since 1987, National Cancer Institute has worked with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to study Chinese medicinal herbs with anti-HIV activity. Over 1000 Chinese traditional medicines were screened using different extraction forms. Of this number, more than 140 herbs showed HIV- inhibition activity. Among them, more than 20 herbs showed significant anti-HIV activity. Baicalin, which was isolated from scutellaria bacicalensis georgi inhibited HIV reverse transcriptase; baicalin and baicalein are active components of Chinese traditional medicine. Researchers have performed molecular modeling using these compounds and discovered additional potential for inhibiting HIV-reverse transcriptase with these ancient herbs.
http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/sci/0801/blherb801.htm
