HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) the virus that causes AIDS, is one of the hottest areas of medical research today. The objective of the study is to test the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity of Acalypha indica leaves extracts and isolated phenol. The leaves of Acalypha indica, were collected from the selected sites of Adilabad District. Leaves were subjected to size reduction to get coarse powder and extracted by sequential maceration method using non-polar to polar solvents. Phenolic compounds were isolated by using TLC, column chromatography and HPLC techniques. Cell viability and cytotoxicity of phenolic compounds were determined against PBMC cells by the trypan-blue dye exclusion method and by MTT assay. The HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme inhibition was determined using HIV-1 RT inhibition assay by using of Retro Sys HIV-1 RT activity kit. At 500 µg/mL concentration of phenolic compound showed the highest percentage of HIV-1 RT enzyme inhibition (88.26%). The weak inhibition was found at 31.25 µg/mL concentration. The control drug AZT shows highest inhibition (92 %) at 500 µg/mL concentrations. These results concludes that the phenolic compounds isolated from A. indica having more potent activity.

Keywords: HIV; Acalypha indica; Reverse Transcriptase, Trypan Blue, MTT assay.