Identification of a Novel Anti-HIV-1 Protein from Momordica balsamina Leaf Extract

Abstract

Our lab investigates the anti-HIV-1 activity in Momordica balsamina (M. balsamina) leaf extract. Traditional Senegalese healers have used M. balsamina leaf extract as a part of a plant-based treatment for HIV/AIDS infections. Our overall goal is to define and validate the scientific basis for using M. balsamina leaf extract as a part of the traditional Senegalese treatment. As an initial characterization of this extract, we used activity-guided fractionation to determine the active ingredient’s solubility and relative size. We found that M. balsamina leaf extract inhibits HIV-1 infection by >50% at concentrations of 0.02 mg/mL and above and is not toxic over its inhibitory range (0–0.5 mg/mL). We observed significantly more antiviral activity in direct water and acetonitrile extractions (p ≤ 0.05). We also observed significantly more antiviral activity in the aqueous phases of ethyl acetate, chloroform, and diethyl ether extractions (p ≤ 0.05). Though most of the antiviral activity partitioned into the aqueous layers, some antiviral activity was present in the organic layers. We show that the active agent in the plant extracts is at least 30 kD in size. Significantly more antiviral activity was retained in 3, 10, and 30 kD molecular weight cutoff filters (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, most of the antiviral activity passed through the 100 kD filter (p ≤ 0.05). Because the active anti-HIV-1 agent presented as a large, amphiphilic molecule we ran the purified extract on an SDS-page gel. We show that the anti-HIV-1 activity in the leaf extracts is attributed to a 30 kDa protein we call MoMo30. This article describes how MoMo30 was determined to be responsible for its anti-HIV-1 activity.

Momordica balsamina L.: A Plant with Multiple Therapeutic and Nutritional Potential—A Review

“…This finding is in line with the work of Coleman et al (2022) [49]. They found that the aqueous extract of M. balsamina leaves inhibits HeLa-CD4+-LTR-βgal cells with HIV-1 NL4-3 by more than 50% at concentrations of 0.02 mg/mL and above, with no toxicity in the 0-0.5 mg/mL range [49]. Other antiviral properties of the plant have been demonstrated.…”

“…In fact, the plant protein MoMo30 (30 kDa protein), isolated from M. balsamina, effectively inhibits HIV-1 in vitro at nanomolar levels while exhibiting minimal cellular toxicity at inhibitory concentrations [48]. This finding is in line with the work of Coleman et al (2022) [49]. They found that the aqueous extract of M. balsamina leaves inhibits HeLa-CD4+-LTR-βgal cells with HIV-1 NL4-3 by more than 50% at concentrations of 0.02 mg/mL and above, with no toxicity in the 0-0.5 mg/mL range [49].…”

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 activity of MoMo30 protein isolated from the traditional African medicinal plant Momordica balsamina

“…We have previously shown that extracts of Momordica balsamina made in water contain antiviral activity [ 33 ]. The active agent is a 30 kDa protein we call MoMo30.…”

“…The preparation of water extracts from plants has been previously described [ 33 ]. One hundred grams of dried and milled leaves from Momordica balsamina were extracted in 1L of distilled water overnight at 4 °C.…”

“…This report details the characterization of a 30 kDa protein we have previously reported [ 33 ] from the medicinal plant Momordica balsamina used by traditional healers in certain African regions. Its N-terminal sequence has homology to Hevamine A-like proteins in other plants.…”