Matlala Maphuti S, Moganedi Kgabo L M, Masoko Peter
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa.
BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 Jul 9;25(1):248. doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-05002-w.
The emergence of drug resistance among Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains, coupled with the detrimental side effects linked to tuberculosis (TB) treatment, underscores the persistence of TB as a significant clinical and public health concern in South Africa, thereby necessitating ongoing research in drug discovery. The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of TB has garnered increasing attention, especially in countries where a significant portion of the population relies on traditional medicine as a primary form of healthcare.
The crude extracts from nine medicinal plants were investigated for antimycobacterial activity. Phytochemical profiling and qualitative antioxidant activity were assessed using thin layer chromatography. The 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay was used for quantitative antioxidant analysis. The broth microdilution assay was used to determine the antimycobacterial activity of the plant extracts and rifampicin against Mycobacterium smegmatis (ATCC 1441). Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to qualitatively evaluate the protein profile of M. smegmatis. The growth response of M. smegmatis to both inhibitors (rifampicin and plants extracts) was assessed through growth kinetics assays.
Phytochemical profiling revealed that all plants contained various phytoconstituents in differing concentrations. Additionally, the plants exhibited relatively low antioxidant activity, as indicated by their IC values. Rosmarinus officinalis and Zanthoxylum capense demonstrated inhibitory effects on the growth of M. smegmatis with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.625 mg/ml. The time-kill assays indicate that the plant extracts including those of Gardenia volkensii, Citrus lemon, Croton gratissimus and Clerodendrum glabrum exhibited greater growth reduction than rifampicin. Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles revealed distinct patterns of M. smegmatis proteins. Protein profiles suggest that plant extracts, like rifampicin, affect bacterial protein synthesis.
The results of this study indicate that the plants do not have potent free radical scavenging capabilities. Nevertheless, they exhibited antimycobacterial properties, notably impacting protein synthesis.
结核分枝杆菌（Mtb）菌株耐药性的出现，以及与结核病（TB）治疗相关的有害副作用，突显了结核病在南非仍然是一个重大的临床和公共卫生问题，因此有必要持续开展药物研发研究。药用植物用于治疗结核病已越来越受到关注，特别是在很大一部分人口依赖传统医学作为主要医疗保健形式的国家。
对九种药用植物的粗提物进行抗分枝杆菌活性研究。使用薄层色谱法评估植物化学图谱和定性抗氧化活性。采用2,2-二苯基-1-苦基肼自由基清除试验进行定量抗氧化分析。采用肉汤微量稀释法测定植物提取物和利福平对耻垢分枝杆菌（ATCC 1441）的抗分枝杆菌活性。使用十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳定性评估耻垢分枝杆菌的蛋白质谱。通过生长动力学试验评估耻垢分枝杆菌对两种抑制剂（利福平和植物提取物）的生长反应。
植物化学图谱显示，所有植物都含有不同浓度的各种植物成分。此外，这些植物的抗氧化活性相对较低，其IC值表明了这一点。迷迭香和多刺花椒对耻垢分枝杆菌的生长具有抑制作用，最低抑菌浓度为0.625毫克/毫升。时间杀菌试验表明，包括沃氏栀子、柠檬、巴豆和光萼海州常山在内的植物提取物比利福平表现出更大的生长抑制作用。十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳图谱显示了耻垢分枝杆菌蛋白质的不同模式。蛋白质谱表明，植物提取物与利福平一样，会影响细菌蛋白质合成。
本研究结果表明，这些植物没有强大的自由基清除能力。然而，它们表现出抗分枝杆菌特性，尤其对蛋白质合成有影响。
