Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), causes potentially life threatening, chronic disease called acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), specifically by suppressing the immune system. According to global health observatory data since epidemic more than 78 million people were affected by HIV and 39 million people died globally and 36.5 million people (0.6-0.9%) were living with HIV till 2017 worldwide commonly in African regions (according to WHO nearly 1 in every 25 adults (4.1%). WHO reported that globally only 21.7 million (19.1 million-22.6 million) people have access to antiretroviral therapy till 2017. Currently, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is available to control the HIV but limitations associated with ART, researchers throughout the world are trying to explore and develop more reliable and safe drugs from natural resources to manage HIV infection. A wide range of medicinal plants have been studied and reported significant potential against HIV like Rheum palmatum L., Rheum officinale, Trigonostema xyphophylloides, Vatica astrotricha, Vernonia amygdalina, Hypoxias pelargonium, Sidoides hemerocallidea and Sutherlandia frutescens etc. Various phytoconstituents isolated from medicinal plants such as alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, tannins, proteins and coumarins have impact to interrupt the life cycle of HIV as well as act as immunomodulators to enhance the immune system of infected person with no well reported side effects. It could be concluded that medicinal plants have potential for the management of HIV/AIDS but more studies are needed to reveal rigorous efficacy and safety concerns by conducting clinical trials at vast level to explore therapeutic impact of medicinal plants. K E Y W O R D S antiretroviral therapy, immune system, medicinal plants, phytoconstituents, safety concerns, specific anti-HIV activity

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