In vitro Antimycobacterial Activity of Sterculia quinqueloba (Garcke) K. Schumand Canthium crassum Hiern
Elihuruma Wilson *
Department of Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Musa Chacha
Department of Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Justin Omolo
Department of Traditional Medicine Research and Environmental Science, National Institute for Medical Research, P.O.Box 9653, Dares Salaam, Tanzania
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To screen for the anti-mycobacterial activity of Canthium crassum and Sterculia quinqueloba using two mycobacteria species the Mycobacteria madagascariense and Mycobacteria indicuspranii.
Study Design: In vitro assay of anti-mycobacterial assay was done using 96-well micro-dilution method.
Place and Duration of Study: School of Life Science and Bioengineering, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania, from April 2014 to June 2014.
Methodology: 96-well-microtitre serial micro-dilution method was used to determine anti-mycobacteria activity to plant extracts.
Results: All extracts exhibited anti-mycobacterial activity to both mycobacteria tested. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.39 – 12.5 mg/mL, with ethyl acetate leaf extract of S. quinqueloba being the most active extracts with MIC value of 0.39 mg/mL against Mycobacteria madagascariense (MM) and 0.78 mg/mL against Mycobacteria indicuspranii (MIP). Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate leaf extract of C. crassum also gave MIC value of 0.78 mg/mL against MM and MIP.
Conclusion: Findings from the present study showed that both plants exhibited activity against mycobacterium species tested. These plants may therefore serve as a source for new ant-mycobacterium drugs worth further studies including isolation and identification of the active compounds.
Keywords: Anti-mycobacterial, Canthium crassum, Sterculia quinqueloba