Pycnogenol®, a Procyanidin-Rich Extract from French Maritime Pine, Inhibits Intracellular Replication of HIV-1 as well as Its Binding to Host Cells

Wu Yu Feng; Ritsuko Tanaka; Yoshio Inagaki; Yasunori Saitoh; Myint Oo Chang; Tohti Amet; Norio Yamamoto; Shoji Yamaoka; Yoshiyuki Yoshinaka

doi:10.7883/yoken.JJID.2008.279

Original Articles

Pycnogenol^®, a Procyanidin-Rich Extract from French Maritime Pine, Inhibits Intracellular Replication of HIV-1 as well as Its Binding to Host Cells

Wu Yu Feng, Ritsuko Tanaka, Yoshio Inagaki, Yasunori Saitoh, Myint Oo Chang, Tohti Amet, Norio Yamamoto, Shoji Yamaoka, Yoshiyuki Yoshinaka

Author information

Wu Yu Feng
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Ritsuko Tanaka
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Yoshio Inagaki
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Yasunori Saitoh
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Myint Oo Chang
Department of Life and Environmental Science, Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan
Tohti Amet
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Norio Yamamoto
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Shoji Yamaoka
Department of Molecular Virology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Yoshiyuki Yoshinaka
Human Gene Sciences Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2008 Volume 61 Issue 4 Pages 279-285

DOI https://doi.org/10.7883/yoken.JJID.2008.279

Details

Abstract

A procyanidin-rich extract from French maritime pine, Pycnogenol^® (PYC), is known as an antioxidant that exerts a variety of physiological activities and is widely used in human beings. We report here that PYC inhibits not only human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) binding to host cells, but also its replication after entry in susceptible cells in vitro. Prominent biochemical alterations induced by PYC were the elevated expression of an intracellular antioxidant protein, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and the inhibition of phosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 protein. Interestingly, ectopic expression of Mn-SOD inhibited HIV-1 replication as well. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication associated with induced expression of Mn-SOD in cells treated with PYC suggests the potential of this natural antioxidant inducer as a new anti-HIV-1 agent.

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