In vitro Inhibition of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tubercu1osis by Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants

A Uba; K Ibrahim; E B Agbo; A A Makinde

A Uba Biological Sciences Programme (Microbiology Unit), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University. P. M. B. 0248. Bauchi, Nigeria
K Ibrahim Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, P. M B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
E B Agbo Biological Sciences Programme (Microbiology Unit), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University. P. M. B. 0248. Bauchi, Nigeria
A A Makinde Dermatophilosis and Diagnostics Unit, National Veterinary Research Institute. Vom, P. M. B. 001. Jos, Plateau State. Nigeria

Keywords: Nigerian medicinal plants, Mycobacterium species, Inhibition

Abstract

Sonme Nigerian plants used in traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis and/or
some of its symptoms were screened for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium
smegmatis and a clinical isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Only 3 of the 6
crude methanolic extracts of the 6 plant species exhibited inhibitory activities
against M. smegmatis while 5 inhibitecl the growth of M. tuberculosis. Three and
four water extracts inhibited M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, respectively.
Both methanol and water extracts of Artemisia annnua, Pterocarpus erinaceus and
Piper guiniense showed inhibitory activities against the two Mycobacteria.
Methanol extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus and Piper guiniense exhibited the
highest activity against M. tuberculosis, with a minimum inhibitory concentration
of 0.1 mglml.