Will Bananas Prevent HIV?

I always knew there was something special about bananas. As it turns out, a strong new inhibitor of HIV derived from bananas may pave the way to novel treatments to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, according to a newly published study from the University of Michigan Medical School. According to findings to be published March 19 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, BanLec–a lectin found in bananas–may become a cheaper component of topical microbicides that can help prevent transmission of HIV. Lectins, naturally occurring chemicals in plants, are becoming a hot topic among scientists because of their ability to halt the chain reaction that leads to a variety of infections.

In laboratory tests, BanLec was as potent as two current anti-HIV drugs–yet therapies using BanLec could be cheaper to create than current anti-retroviral medications which use synthetically produced components. In addition, BanLec may provide a wider range of protection, researchers say.

Although condom use has proven to be effective, condoms are most successful in preventing infection only when used consistently and correctly, which is often not the case, especially in developing countries. The rate of new infections of HIV is outpacing the rate of new individuals getting anti-retroviral drugs by 2.5 to 1, and an effective vaccine is years away.

Some of the most promising compounds for inhibiting HIV transmission are agents that block HIV prior to integration into its target cell. The new research describes the complex actions of lectins, which are sugar-binding proteins, and their ability to outsmart HIV. They can identify foreign invaders, like a virus, and attach themselves to the pathogen. The lectin in bananas, can inhibit HIV infection by binding to the sugar-rich HIV-1 and blocking its entry to the body.

This isn’t to say that by simply employing fresh bananas one can be protected against HIV, but it’s heartening to know that medicine is taking its cues, as usual, from one of nature’s own. The team is developing a process to molecularly alter BanLec to enhance its potential clinical utility. Clinical use is considered years away but researchers believe it could be used alone or with other anti-HIV drugs as a vaginal microbicide that prevents HIV infection. Authors say even modest success could save millions of lives. Other investigators have estimated that 20 percent coverage with a microbicide that is only 60 percent effective against HIV may prevent up to 2.5 million HIV infections in three years. Yay bananas!