Antimycobacterial Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants and Formulations in the Management of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
June, 2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed an increase in the use and search for new drugs derived from plants. Microbiologists, Ethnopharmacologists, Botanists, Natural-product chemists and other related bodies are all trying to discover phytochemicals that could be developed for the treatment of infectious diseases. Tuberculosis is an endemic and pandemic bacterial disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Treatment, prevention and the rate at which tuberculosis is spreading has been the concern of World Health Organization and individuals. Isoniazid, Ramfipicin, and Ethambutol, among others have been the drugs of choice for the treatment of tuberculosis; however, these drugs take longer periods of time before their positive effects are noticed and experienced and may even produce adverse side effects on the human system. In this study, nine medicinal plants were selected through ethno-botanical survey in Southern part of Ghana. These medicinal plants used to treat respiratory diseases, stomach ailments and other microbial infections were evaluated for their anti-tubercular activity. The nine selected plant species were tested individually and as part of formulations against drug sensitive strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv) and Mycobacterium bovis at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mg/ml using Lowenstein-Jensen egg medium at bacteriology department of KCCR and Nougchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. Phytoconstituents observed were terpenoids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, and alkaloids. Allium sativum inhibited the growth of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv) and Mycobacterium bovis at concentrations of 5.0 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml with other individual plants inhibiting the test organisms at 5.0 mg/ml. Formulations from a combination of Allium sativum and Lantana hispida formulation also inhibited the growth of both strains at the lowest concentration of 1.0mg/ml with other formulations inhibiting to varying degrees. Thus, Allium sativum and a formulation from a combination of Allium sativum and Lantana hispida exhibited great potential in inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis; hence could be used to manage infections caused by these microbes. The study has also scientifically substantiate the used of selected medicinal plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis in Ghana and also revealed scientifically that, there is high potential of medicinal plants which can treat tuberculosis even better than the standard drugs.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Department of Theoretical Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Philosophy Degree in Microbiology
Keywords
Citation