Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596168
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Activity of selected West African medicinal plants against Mycobacterium ulcerans disease

PVT Fokou
1   Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
,
AA Kissi-Twum
1   Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
,
D Yeboah-Manu
2   Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
,
R Appiah-Oppong
1   Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
,
P Addo
3   Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
,
LRT Yamthe
4   Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
5   Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box 6163, Yaoundé, Cameroon
,
AN Mfopa
4   Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
,
FF Boyom
4   Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
,
AK Nyarko
1   Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, P. O. Box LG 581, Accra, Ghana
6   Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 43, Legon, Ghana
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

 

Buruli ulcer is the third most prevalent mycobacteriosis, after tuberculosis and leprosy [1]. The currently recommended combination of Rifampicin-Streptomycin is challenged by side effects and poor compliance, which leads to reliance on local herbal remedies [2,3]. The objective of this study was to investigate the antimycobacterial properties and toxicity of selected medicinal plants. Sixty-five extracts from 27 plant species were screened against Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium smegmatis, using the Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). The cytotoxicity of promising extracts was assayed on normal Chang liver cells by MTT assay. Twenty five extracts showed activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 15.31 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL against M. smegmatis while 17 showed activity against M. ulcerans with MIC values ranging from 125 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL. In most of the cases, plant extracts with antimycobacterial activity showed no cytotoxicity on normal human liver cells. Exception were Carica papaya, Cleistopholis patens, and Polyalthia suaveolens with 50% cell cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) ranging from 3.83 to 223 µg/mL. Qualitative preliminary phytochemical analysis performed on the promising the extracts revealed phytoconstituents that might be responsible for the observed antimycobacterial activity such as phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponines, alkaloids, anthraquinones, glycosides, and triterpenes. These preliminary results support the use of some West African plants in the treatment of Buruli ulcer. As well, the chemical profile of active extracts will provide guidance for further investigations in pharmacological properties of active ingredients.

Acknowledgements: Financial support by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research postdoctoral training programme backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Keywords: Ethnopharmacology, medicinal plants, Buruli ulcer, cytotoxicity, Mycobacterium ulcerans.

References:

[1] WHO. Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection) Fact sheet N°199 [Online], 2013. (accessed Updated June 2013).

[2] Owusu-Sekyere E. Managing the buruli ulcer morbidity in the Amansie West District of Ghana: Can indigenous knowledge succeed? Int J Med Med Sci 2012; 4: 180 – 185

[3] Yemoa A, Gbenou J, Affolabi D, Moudachirou M, Bigot A, Anagonou S, Portaels F, Martin A, Quetin-Leclercq J. Beninese medicinal plants as a source of antimycobacterial agents: bioguided fractionation and in vitro activity of alkaloids isolated from Holarrhena floribunda used in traditional treatment of Buruli ulcer. BioMed Res Int 2015: dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/835767.