Other than just the clinical findings, advanced computer programs are also being incorporated to define the nature and the binding effects of EGCG on the CD4 molecule in a better and more effective manner. Efforts are on to find out the exact location where the HIV glycoprotein envelope usually binds itself. This would enable the scientists to find out the working of EGCG in detail. This would help them develop a molecular modeling of the EGCG in the form of a drug. In the clinical tests conducted on the behavior of ECG on CD4 molecule, the concentrations of EGCG used were many times more than the blood concentration that could be accomplished by intake of regular green tea. This means that the experimental conditions are not exactly similar to the actual conditions. These tests only show the inhibitory effect of EGCG on HIV in test tubes. Although the findings have been very positive, their use in humans can not yet be defined accurately. In the past, many other substances also proved as good against HIV in test tubes but their effect on humans was almost negligible. The scientists have to take into account various substances in the human body that can inhibit their action towards HIV action. Therefore, it is too premature to announce yet that green tea extracts can prevent HIV infection. There is too little research done as of late to predict the actin of EGCG in the human body. It may be possible that EGCG is not at all effective in real life and its use is limited only to the clinical tests.

In the clinical tests, the researchers tried to find the effect of EGCG on human T cells. Then an HIV component called gp120 was added to the human T cells. It was found that when the gp120 adds itself on the T cell’s CD4 molecule, it allows the HIV to enter and finally disable the T cell. But the EGCG inhibits this gp120 from binding itself on the CD4 molecules. The highest amount of EGCG used had the best effect on the HIV blockade. That is, the level of blocking the virus depends on the amount o EGCG used. However, along with these findings, it was also observed that the EGCG doses could not completely block the gp120 from binding with the CD4 molecules, no matter how much high concentration was used. Human serum neither affects the EGCG binding to the CD4 molecules nor does it affect the inhibitory action of the EGCG on gp120 binding. At the minimum concentration of EGCG used, it was found that HIV binding was reduced by nearly 40%. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that by consuming two to three cups of tea can reduce the HIV binding on CD4 molecule by ten to twenty times.  

In some other experiments, it was found that EGCG found in green tea inhibits proteasome complex at the same concentrations that can be achieved by drinking tea. Green tea has never been found to have any kind of toxic effect on the human tissues. Tea can be combined with some other compounds which also inhibit the synthesis of the HIV virus along with blocking the activity of the VPR protein. These forms of natural medicines are completely safe and effective if used on a regular basis. Synthetic medicines on the other hand, are hardly of any use to most of the HIV infected people.

Green tea is not a cure. It may not even be a safe way to avoid infection. But it can be said with certainty that if green tea extracts are used in combination with some conventional medicines, the life of HIV infected people can definitely be improved.

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