How Dr. Lowe Lignum Vitae Extract is the Equivalent of Melittin in Bee Venom for AIDS Treatment

Many people claim to have drugs that are a cure for HIV (Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus), the causative agent behind AIDS (Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome).

But a National Plant? Jamaica may be the first country to make this claim, based on the research of Dr Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team.

Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team claim that they've discovered that a chemical compound in the Lignum Vitae plant can be used in the fight against HIV as stated in the article “Anti-HIV activity found in lignum vitae, say scientists”, published Friday, August 08, 2014, The Jamaica Observer.  

Quite a fitting tribute during August 2014, the month of Jamaica's Emancipation and Independence Day celebrations! Even more interesting is that the Lignum Vitae is the National Flower of Jamaica. That it may also be a potential cure for HIV/AIDS makes it truly a National Flower indeed worthy of adoration for its healing potential as well as for its beauty.

You can read his research paper if you have a subscription to European Journal of Medicinal Plants in the April 2014 edition of the publication under the title “Anti HIV-1 Activity of the Extracts of Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae)”.

This extract, according to the Press Release put out by Dr Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team, is a big deal, quote: “We are currently pursuing these potential drugs in collaboration with the Natural Products Division at the Research Triangle International, USA, which is known for its discoveries of anti-HIV drugs, and, of course, at the Institute of Human Virology. Based on this, we believe we are on the verge of identifying a potent major anti-HIV drug”.

The stats about HIV in Jamaica make this discovery very important to combating AIDS:

1.      32,000 people living with HIV

2.      50% unaware of their status

Throw on that burning pyre some Global Statistics from UNAIDS about this major Global Pandemic:

1.      30 million people living with HIV

2.      20% or 6 million receiving anti-retroviral therapy

3.      80% or 24 million not receiving anti-retroviral therapy

With those stats in mind, not only is this an urgently needed drug but it also is one that’ll change the game as it relates to HIV/AIDS Treatment not only in Jamaica but worldwide. A potential pharmaceutical goldmine for Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team!

Dr. Lowe and the Lignum Vitae – Equivalent of Mellitin in Bee Venom found in Tree Bark

To be specific, the plant that his research focused on was the Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae), more commonly known as the Lignum Vitae Flower, which grows like a tree by the way. Apparently an unnamed Chemical compound isolated from an Extract taken from the leaves directly attacks the HIV Virus was discovered by Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team in 2013.

Dr. Henry Lowe, however, chose to delay publication until they could confirm the results independently from tests done by Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Medical School.

Tests by Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Medical School help to establish this very interesting discovery. This is a pretty huge discovery, as according to a Press Release put out by Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team, Dr Joseph Bryant of the Institute of Human Virology concurs, quote: “The Bio-Tech R&D, Team led by Dr Lowe, needs to be recognized and commended for bringing a gift of a major potential 'magic bullet' from a Jamaican tree for the potential management of the HIV Virus which causes AIDS”.

I say “interesting” as it’s similar to another discovery also made in 2013.

This was on Friday March 8^th 2013 and was made by Dr. Joshua L. Hood, MD, PhD and his research Team at the Washington University School of Medicine as explained in my blog article entitled “Washington University School of Medicine researchers use Liposomes and Melittin to kill HIV - Olympus has Fallen (2013) and given us a Panacea for every disease on planet Earth”.  

They had developed a similar treatment for HIV that involved taking nanoparticles of the active chemical in Bee Venom, Mellitin and placing it into a molecular Liposome Cage. Liposomes, which are spherical structures made of Monoglycerides, Diglycerides, Triglycerides or even Phospholipids, have the unique property of being asamphillic i.e. being both Hydrophilic (water-loving and thus water soluble) and Hydrophobic (Water-hating and thus water repelling).

This property makes them appear to be like living cells, making then the perfect tool to kill the HIV Virus, Trojan Horse Style. They made their treatment by using the Liposome molecule as a molecular surface to attach individual molecules or nanodots of Mellitin on the outer surface. Surrounding these individual clumps of Mellitin molecules were larger molecules that act as a kind of bumper or gauge to makes sure only the HIV Virus could fit in-between.

When the HIV Virus tries to infect the Liposome molecule, it will slip between the larger bumper molecules, seeking to attach itself to the surface of the Liposome. In doing so, it will bump into the Mellitin molecules and upon contact, the Virus will be destroyed.

Their treatment was shown to attack the HIV Virus directly and kill the Virus. But due to the poisonous nature of Bee Venom i.e. Mellitin, it can't be used directly on humans, but may have been observed to work in the laboratory against the HIV Virus. The Liposome is really just a delivery mechanism.

The similarity to Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team's discovery is that this active ingredient in Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae) aka the Lignum Vitae Flower has the same properties as Mellitin i.e. it kills HIV Virus on contact. Like Mellitin, it may be poisonous to humans in large concentrations but potent against the HIV Virus in nano-particulate doses.

HIV Neutraceutical Cure – Lignum Vitae may be the Tree of Life for AIDS Treatment

Best of all, it comes from a tree, which is much easier to extract than Bee Venom, potentially making it cheaper. Note that this doesn’t mean going out and splitting off the bark, leaves and flowers of the National Tree, masticating and boiling it in pure ethanol to extract the Essence in a manner similar to Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) as detailed in my blog article entitled “Ras Puddler says Legalization of Marijuana benefits large Scale Growers - How Teenagers can Learn to Extract THC for personal Use to make Chocolate Cookie, Brownies and Sorrell Cake for Christmas”.

But will this ultimately produce a cure for HIV/AIDS?

You first have to identify the active ingredient in that chemical soup that kill the HIV Virus. Otherwise drinking what may be a poisonous purified Essence of Lignum Vitae mixture could have fatal results or just mild vomiting, depending on the concentration of the mixture.

Even with the active ingredient extracted, the delivery mechanism has to be as hyper-specific as the one Dr. Joshua L. Hood and his research Team developed using Mellitin and Liposomes. Otherwise take directly, this extract from the Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae) will also attack and kill healthy cells as well.

Still, in low doses in Tablets or packaged with the right stabilizers to withstand passage thru the Digestive System, it can be used directly in Neutraceuticals, to again quote the he Press Release put out by Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team: “In the interim, a nutraceutical product is being developed. A US patent has so far been filed in order to protect this vital intellectual property”.

It's therefore interesting to see if any real news will be forthcoming from Dr Henry I.C. Lowe and his Bio-Tech Research and Development Team. Dr. Lowe is already famous for opening Jamaica’s First Medical Marijuana Research Clinic, dubbed MediCanJa in December 2013 as describe in my blog article entitled “Dr. Henry Lowe launches Medicanja and jump-starts Pharmaceutical Industry in our Back yard”.

This discovery is his IP (Intellectual Property), most likely with the assistance of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Medical School and a suitable manufacturer, they'll develope a delivery mechanism for the drug similar to the one Dr. Joshua L. Hood and his research Team developed using Mellitin and Liposomes.

Cure for HIV/AIDS using Lignum Vitae sold from Medicanja, anyone? Read Dr. Henry Lowe research paper here:

Anti HIV-1 Activity of the Extracts of Guaiacum officinale L (Zygophyllaceae)