Bananas Could Help Prevent HIV
A protein that is found in bananas know as banana lectin was found to be a powerful inhibitor of the HIV virus. This is according to an article 
published in the January issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
The protein Banana lectin, also called BanLec, can bind to certain molecules on the surface of the HIV virus inhibiting infection.
Researchers from the University of Michigan studied the function of BanLec and determined that it binds to a specific surface protein called gp120. BanLec inhibited the ability of the HIV virus to enter cells. A virus must be able to enter a cell in order to cause an infection. BanLec appears to inhibit this process and therefore may inhibit an infection of HIV.
BanLec appears to be a promising potential future treatment to prevent HIV infection.
Cristopher Geiler, MD
Reference
J. Biol. Chem. 2010 285: 8646-8655
Posted on May 5, 2010
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