innovation highlight

AIDS drug made from sunflowers

Sunflowers are capable of producing the substance dicaffeoyl quinic acid (DCQA) which, in cell culture at least, inhibits the reproduction of the AIDS virus HIV. DCQA is one of a new class of AIDS drugs and is one of the few compounds known today to have an inhibitory effect on viral integrase.

HASH(0x305ec24)

Integrase is the enzyme responsible for the integration of viral DNA in the host genome, and hence essential to the reproduction of the HI virus. Supplies of DCQA are extremely limited at present, so the compound is still extremely expensive. Scientists at the University of Bonn and the Caesar research center have demonstrated for the first time that DCQA can be obtained from sunflowers.

Topic: Health and Medicine, Biotechnology
Source: BioRiver - Life Science im Rheinland e.V.
Region: Rhine Ruhr Sieg

The initiative The topics The regions The networks BioRiver - Life Science im Rheinland e.V. The service	News
	innovation highlight AIDS drug made from sunflowers Sunflowers are capable of producing the substance dicaffeoyl quinic acid (DCQA) which, in cell culture at least, inhibits the reproduction of the AIDS virus HIV. DCQA is one of a new class of AIDS drugs and is one of the few compounds known today to have an inhibitory effect on viral integrase. HASH(0x305ec24) Integrase is the enzyme responsible for the integration of viral DNA in the host genome, and hence essential to the reproduction of the HI virus. Supplies of DCQA are extremely limited at present, so the compound is still extremely expensive. Scientists at the University of Bonn and the Caesar research center have demonstrated for the first time that DCQA can be obtained from sunflowers. Topic: Health and Medicine, Biotechnology Source: BioRiver - Life Science im Rheinland e.V. Region: Rhine Ruhr Sieg	Print page Back