Arch Pharm Res. 1999 Oct; 22(5): 520-3.

HIV integrase inhibitory activity of Agastache rugosa.

Kim HK, Lee HK, Shin CG, Huh H.

Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Korea.

We have been screening anti-HIV integrase compounds from Korean medicinal plants by using an in vitro assay system which is mainly composed of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase and radiolabeled oligonucleotides. From the above screening, the aqueous methanolic extract of the roots of Agastache rugosa exhibited a significant activity. Bioactivity-guided chromatographic fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of rosmarinic acid. The structure of the compound was determined by spectroscopic data and by the comparison with the reported values. The IC50 of the rosmarinic acid was approximately 10 microg/ml against HIV integrase.