Brain cells protected from HIV-induced neurotoxicity by natural compounds.

Unlock Brain Protection: Natural Compounds Combat HIV-Related Neurotoxicity

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule offer hope in mitigating neurological damage linked to HIV, paving the way for innovative therapies."

For individuals living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1), advancements in antiretroviral therapy have significantly extended lifespans. Yet, a considerable number of patients still grapple with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), impacting their overall quality of life. HAND affects around 50% of the HIV-1 infected population, creating an urgent need to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop effective treatments.

Although neuronal damage occurs in patients with HIV-1, the precise processes behind HAND remain unclear. Research indicates that persistent HIV in the central nervous system (CNS), along with the ongoing presence of the HIV-1 regulatory protein Tat in the brain, are crucial factors in the development of HAND. Tat, a secreted viral protein, disrupts various cellular mechanisms, including apoptotic pathways, neurotransmitter function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses.

Studies suggest Tat can harm neurons both directly and indirectly, leading to inducible nitric oxide synthase and neurotoxicity. Elevated Tat levels correlate with neurocognitive disorders in HAND patients, making it imperative to find strategies that alleviate or prevent neuronal damage caused by Tat. This could lead to effective therapeutic interventions for HAND.

Salvianic Acid A and Danshen Granule: A Neuroprotective Powerhouse

Brain cells protected from HIV-induced neurotoxicity by natural compounds.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) highlights Salvia miltiorrhiza, known as Danshen, as a vital herb. The Chinese Pharmacopeia officially recognizes Danshen, and Danshen granule, a pharmaceutical form of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been marketed for over a decade in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Salvia miltiorrhiza is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, its ability to prevent lipid peroxidation, and its capacity to scavenge oxygen free radicals. Danshen granule is used to treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and endocrine diseases, including heart disease, hyperlipidemia, menstrual disorders, hepatitis, angina pectoris, and cancers. Key chemical constituents include lipophilic compounds like tanshinone and hydrophilic compounds like salvianolic acid, with Salvianic acid A being particularly significant.

Combating Cell Death: Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule inhibit Tat-induced cell death, block LDH release, and rescue dendritic spine loss.
Reducing Oxidative Stress: These compounds significantly reduce the production of intracellular ROS and MDA, mitigating oxidative damage.
Preventing Apoptosis: Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule attenuate cell apoptosis by modulating apoptotic pathways.
Boosting Antioxidant Activity: Pretreatment with these substances increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes like CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px.

Research demonstrates that Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule offer substantial neuroprotection against Tat-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for HAND and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Future Directions: Paving the Way for New Therapies

This study confirms the neuroprotective benefits of Danshen granule and Salvianic acid A against Tat-induced toxicity, revealing their ability to block LDH release, prevent cell death, and restore dendritic spine loss. The compounds also reduce intracellular ROS and MDA production while preventing cell apoptosis.

Danshen granule and Salvianic acid A enhance antioxidant enzymatic activity and regulate Bcl-2 and Bax ratios, inhibiting apoptotic pathways. These findings show that Danshen granule and Salvianic acid A mitigate Tat-induced neurotoxicity from multiple angles.

These results support further investigation into Danshen granule and Salvianic acid A as therapeutic agents for HAND and other neurodegenerative conditions, potentially revolutionizing treatment strategies.

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This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.11.146, Alternate LINK

Title: The Attenuation Of Hiv-1 Tat-Induced Neurotoxicity By Salvianic Acid A And Danshen Granule

Subject: Molecular Biology

Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Dengke Bao, Jingkai Wang, Junqi Liu, Tao Qin, Hongliang Liu

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) and why is it a concern despite advancements in HIV treatment?

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, or HAND, affects a substantial portion (around 50%) of the HIV-1 infected population, even with the success of antiretroviral therapy in extending lifespans. This is a concern because HAND significantly impacts the overall quality of life. The precise processes behind HAND remain unclear, but research indicates that the ongoing presence of the HIV-1 regulatory protein Tat in the brain is a crucial factor in its development, creating an urgent need to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop effective treatments.

How do Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule protect against HIV-1 Tat-induced neurotoxicity?

Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule offer neuroprotection against HIV-1 Tat-induced neurotoxicity through multiple mechanisms. They inhibit Tat-induced cell death and block LDH release, which rescues dendritic spine loss. They also reduce the production of intracellular ROS and MDA, mitigating oxidative damage, and attenuate cell apoptosis by modulating apoptotic pathways. Additionally, pretreatment with these substances increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes like CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px.

What is the significance of Tat in the context of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), and why is it important to find strategies to alleviate neuronal damage caused by Tat?

Tat, or Trans-Activator of Transcription, is a secreted viral protein that plays a crucial role in the development of HAND. It disrupts various cellular mechanisms, including apoptotic pathways, neurotransmitter function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. Elevated Tat levels correlate with neurocognitive disorders in HAND patients. Therefore, finding strategies to alleviate or prevent neuronal damage caused by Tat is imperative for developing effective therapeutic interventions for HAND.

What is Danshen granule, and what are its traditional uses according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Danshen granule is a pharmaceutical form of Salvia miltiorrhiza, officially recognized by the Chinese Pharmacopeia and marketed for over a decade in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Salvia miltiorrhiza (known as Danshen) is a vital herb known for its anti-inflammatory properties, its ability to prevent lipid peroxidation, and its capacity to scavenge oxygen free radicals. Danshen granule is traditionally used to treat cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and endocrine diseases, including heart disease, hyperlipidemia, menstrual disorders, hepatitis, angina pectoris, and cancers.

What future research directions might stem from the findings about Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule, and how could these compounds potentially be used in treating HAND and other neurodegenerative diseases?

Future research could focus on further elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms through which Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule exert their neuroprotective effects. This could involve investigating their interactions with specific targets within apoptotic pathways, oxidative stress response systems, and inflammatory cascades. Additionally, clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of Salvianic acid A and Danshen granule in treating HAND patients. These compounds show promise as potential therapeutic agents for HAND and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases due to their ability to block LDH release, prevent cell death, restore dendritic spine loss, reduce intracellular ROS and MDA production, and prevent cell apoptosis.