Screening of crude extracts of twelve medicinal plants and “wondercure” concoction used in Nigeria unorthodox medicine for activity against mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from tuberculosis patients sputum

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of extracts of twelve Nigerian medicinal plant species and a "wonder cure" concoction [Epa-Ijebu]; used in traditional medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis and cough were screened for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from tuberculosis patient sputum and the control strains of M. tuberculosis (H37RV). Both ethanolic and aqueous solution of the extract of Allium ascalonicum, Terminalia glaucescens, Allium cepa and Securidaca longepedunculata (ethanolic extract only) at 0.05g/ml as well as aqueous solution of "wonder cure" concoction at same concentration inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis. However at lower concentration of 0.2 µg/ml (critical proportion level of the control drug (isoniazide), M. tuberculosis was resistant to both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plants as well as the aqueous solution of the wonder-cure concoction. The phytochemical analysis of the plant extract and the Epa-Ijebu showed the presence of bioactive compounds: tannin, flavonoid, alkaloids, phlobatannin, anthocyanin, reducing sugar, saponin and anthraquinone. Our results offer a scientific basis for the traditional use of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Allium ascalonicum, Terminalia glaucescens, Allium cepa, Securidaca longepeducunlata (ethanolic extract only) and aqueous solution of the "wonder cure" concoction at higher concentration against M. tuberculosis. However local herbs such as Nicotiana tabacum, Allium sativum, Aframomum melegueta, Aprus precatorius, Xylopia aethiopica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Crinium jagus, and Garcinia kola were ineffective.

Ethno-medicines for Mosquito Transmitted Diseases from South-western Nigeria

“…Also, Chromolaena odorata, Nicotiana tabacum, Ocimum gratissimum and Xylopia aethiopica, each had the UMi of 0.167. These plants have been cited in many herbal remedies [69][70][71][72][73]. Vernonia was the only genus in which two species; V. amygdalina (UMi 0.125) and V. cinerea (UMi 0.042) was encountered in the survey.…”

Physicochemical properties of Malaysian-grown tropical almond nuts (Terminalia catappa)

“…Scientifically, the fruit has demonstrated anti-diabetic activity (Lin et al 1999;Chen and Dong 2000;Nagappa et al 2003) and helpful in the treatment of leprosy and headaches. The leaves contain many hydrolysable tannins (Tanaka et al 1986) which contribute to medicinal uses of the leaves that include: the treatment of liver related diseases, sickle cell disorders, cancers, anemia (Moody 2003;Oboh et al 2008), tuberculosis (Adeleye et al 2008), fungal infections (Masoko and Eloff 2005), treatment of eye and intestinal parasites, wounds, and liver ailments (Kirtikar and Basu 1991;Corner 1997), treatment of dermatitis and hepatitis (Kinoshita et al 2006), inhibition of HIV replication in infected H9 lymphocytes with little cytotoxicity (Nonaka et al 1990;Atsu Barku et al 2012), and reduction of ear inflammation (Fan et al 2004).…”

Some Nigerian anti-tuberculosis ethnomedicines: A preliminary efficacy assessment

“…The ethanolic extract of the plant was shown to be active at a concentration of 0.050g/mL against M. tb. strain H 37 Rv and a clinical isolate (Adeleye et al, 2008)…”