The antimycobacterial efficacy of herbs 14+

🔖 Tuberculosis is a global problem of staggering proportions. TB is expensive to control due to emerging resistance of the bacterium to available drugs. The search for effective drugs for Mycobacterium is paramount.A large proportion of the Kenyan population uses herbal medicine to combat several ailments including tuberculosis but scientific data to support the efficacy of herbal preparations is insufficient. This study surveyed plants used by Abagusii traditional medical practitioners to treat TB. Six plants were selected (S.princeae, W. ugandensis,S.aculeatissimum, C.edulis, S. glaucescens and T.asitua) and tested for anti-mycobacterial activities.Roots, stems, leaves and flowers were dried in the shade and ground to powder. Extraction in Erlen Meyer flasks was done using cold H2O, hexane, DCM, and MeOH. The extracts were tested against various Mycobacteria known to be resistant to rifampin,streptomycin and isoniazid. Bioactive plants were assayed for classes of compounds present. The G.I of Mycobacterium strains in the extracts used to measure efficacy. The bioactive plants were; S.glaucescens, W.ugandensis, C.edulis and T.asiatica