Diseases caused by viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS are still a problem in various parts of the world. Indonesia is a country with the highest HIV transmission rates in the Asian continent, because there is a significant increase in the number of new cases each year. This condition is a challenge for the government and health workers because there is an iceberg effect accompanying HIV / AIDS infection, where there are still many cases that have not been detected. According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, there are more than 16,000 Indonesians suffering from HIV / AIDS. More than 50% of these sufferers are in the productive age group, which is between 20-29 years.
The increasing new cases cannot be controlled optimally because until now there is no vaccine to prevent the HIV / AIDS virus, so that therapy for people with HIV / AIDS is very dependent on antiviral drugs on the market. Many studies have been conducted as an effort to find adjunctive (herbal-based) therapy to increase the life expectancy of people with HIV / AIDS and high-risk community groups infected with HIV / AIDS. One such additional therapy using green tea ( Camellia sinensis) is believed to be one of the natural ingredients that can ward off viral infections.
HIV / AIDS infection causes an immune system disorder known as immunodeficiency, which is marked by a significant decrease in CD4 cell counts. In these conditions, people with HIV / AIDS are more susceptible to infections and other diseases. The content of active ingredients flavonoids and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea has been shown to reduce the impact of HIV infection by inhibiting the virus from binding to body cells. The recommended dose of green tea to inhibit HIV infection is 10mg / ml. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the development of HIV / AIDS therapy, which is not only able to act as an antiviral, but also stimulates the immune system of sufferers.
Author: Retno Pudji Rahayu
Details on this scientific paper available at
http://www.jidmr.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/70.M-D18_700_Prihartini_Widiyanti1.pdf
