Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2013, Article ID 840719, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/840719
Research Article
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts from
Plants Used Traditionally in South Africa to Treat
Tuberculosis and Related Symptoms
Balungile Madikizela, Ashwell Rungano Ndhlala,
Jeffrey Franklin Finnie, and Johannes Van Staden
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg,
Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
Correspondence should be addressed to Johannes Van Staden; rcpgd@ukzn.ac.za
Received 12 November 2012; Accepted 23 January 2013
Academic Editor: Seong-Gyu Ko
Copyright © 2013 Balungile Madikizela et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Respiratory ailments are major human killers, especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease causing
a threat to human healthcare. Many South African plants are used in the traditional treatment of TB and related symptoms,
but there has not been a suicient focus on evaluating their antimicrobial properties. he aim of this study was to evaluate
the antimicrobial properties of plants used traditionally to treat TB and related symptoms against microorganisms (Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium aurum A+) associated with respiratory infections using the microdilution
assay. Ten plants were selected based on a survey of available literature of medicinal plants used in South Africa for the treatment
of TB and related symptoms. he petroleum ether, dichloromethane, 80% ethanol, and water extracts of the selected plants
were evaluated for antibacterial activity. Out of 68 extracts tested from diferent parts of the 10 plant species, 17 showed good
antimicrobial activities against at least one or more of the microbial strains tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging
from 0.195 to 12.5 mg/mL. he good antimicrobial properties of Abrus precatorius, Terminalia phanerophlebia, Indigofera arrecta,
and Pentanisia prunelloides authenticate their traditional use in the treatment of respiratory diseases. hus, further pharmacological
and phytochemical analysis is required.
1. Introduction
A few decades ago, there was enormous optimism about the
decline of threatening infectious diseases due to advances
in technology and science [1]. However, due to a rise in
the transitional nature of infectious diseases, such optimism
has not yet been met. Worldwide infectious diseases are
still the leading cause of death, especially in developing
countries, claiming millions of lives yearly despite the enormous improvements made in human healthcare [2]. Globally,
infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death
of children and adults under the age of 50, placing severe
burdens on the developing world [3, 4]. Within the last
few decades, there has been the emergence of about 30
threatening infectious diseases with the majority capable of
afecting humans [4]. he treatment of infectious diseases
is facing a major problem at present with many microbes
developing resistance to widely used antibiotics and antiviral
therapies [5–7]. A few examples are the pathogens associated with acquired immunodeiciency syndrome (AIDS)
and multidrug-resistant TB (MDRTB). In the coming years,
emerging diseases will probably increase due to travel, urbanization, overcrowding, and inadequate healthcare leading to
new interactions between human beings and animals as well
as other diseases [8]. hus, addressing the problem of infectious diseases is now an important and urgent requirement.
Respiratory diseases are among the major human killers
in the world [9]. TB has been reported to be one of the
most serious infectious bacterial diseases, causing a threat
to healthcare globally despite the availability of drugs and
2
care centres since the 1940s [7, 9–11]. TB is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality especially when coinfection with HIV-1 occurs and is a pandemic in many parts
of the world [12]. TB is the most commonly notiied disease
in South Africa and the ith largest cause of death [13, 14].
Approximately 285,000 cases of TB were estimated in South
Africa in 2005, and it had the seventh highest population with
TB in the world and the second in Africa [14].
Due to the important role medicinal plants play in the
process of drug discovery and development, they are widely
recognised as sources of active antimicrobial metabolites [11].
Several studies have been carried out in South Africa to
record the ethnobotanical uses of plants in the treatment
of tuberculosis and related symptoms such as coughing,
respiratory ailments, and fever [11]. Examples of such detailed
studies are recorded in useful reviews of medicinal plants
by Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk [36]; Hutchings et al. [15],
as well as Van Wyk et al. [17, 29]. hus, there is a great
potential in inding medicinal plants with activity against
microorganisms related to respiratory infections.
Most studies done in South Africa on plants used
traditionally to treat respiratory ailments have focused on
evaluating their antimycobacterial activity against TB causing
bacterial strains [13, 14, 37] but with little emphasis on the
related symptoms [38, 39]. herefore, this current study was
aimed at evaluating the antimicrobial activity of selected
plants against bacteria related to respiratory infection.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Selection and Preparation of Plants for Bioassays. Ten
plants were selected based on the available literature of
medicinal plants used by various South African tribes in the
treatment of TB and related symptoms [11, 15, 17, 20, 29].
he plant materials were collected from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden and Ukulinga Research
Farm. Voucher specimens were deposited in the University
of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg) Herbarium (NU) for
botanical authentication. he species name, family, traditional uses, voucher numbers, parts used, and previously
screened activity of the plants used in the study are given in
Table 1. he plant materials were oven-dried at 50∘ C, ground
into powders, and stored in airtight containers. Dried plant
material (10 g) was extracted sequentially with 200 mL of each
of the four solvents, petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane
(DCM), 80% ethanol (EtOH), and water (from polar to
nonpolar) by sonication for 1 h at 15∘ C with temperature being
maintained by the addition of ice. he samples were then
iltered through Whatman No. 1 ilter paper and concentrated
to dryness under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator
to obtain crude extracts. he aqueous extracts were dried
under reduced pressure by means of a freeze-drier. Crude
extracts were then stored in the dark at 10∘ C until use. he
percentage yield for each extract was determined.
2.2. Bacterial Strains and Culture Conditions. hree strains
of bacteria were used for antibacterial evaluation against
the extracts. he strains were Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
13883), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 12600), which were
obtained from the American type culture collection, and
Mycobacterium aurum A+ from the Microbiology Laboratory, Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town.
he test organisms were selected because of their respiratory
pathogenesis and fast growth rates [14, 40]. he strains were
maintained on Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar except for M.
aurum A+ which was maintained on Middlebrook 7H10 agar
supplemented with 0.5% glycerol and 10% OADC (oleic acid,
albumin, dextrose, and catalase).
2.3. Antimicrobial Activity Assays. he minimum inhibitory
concentrations (MIC) of plant extracts were determined
using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microtitre
plates for S. aureus and K. pneumoniae as described by Elof
[41] and Jadaun et al. [42] for M. aurum A+. he extracts were
dissolved in 10% DMSO except for aqueous extracts which
were dissolved in sterile distilled water. he test organisms
(S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) were cultured in MH broth
for 24 h, while Middlebrook broth supplemented with 10%
OADC and 0.5% glycerol was used to culture M. aurum A+
for 72 h at 37∘ C. Neomycin and streptomycin were used as the
positive controls whereas broth, 10% DMSO, and water were
used as negative controls. For antibacterial testing against
S. aureus and K. pneumonia, 100 �L of water were added in
each well and Middlebrook broth supplemented with 0.5%
glycerol, and 10% OADC was used for M. aurum A+. One
hundred microliters of solvent controls and test samples were
added to the irst wells of the microplate starting with a
concentration of 100 mg/mL of extracts and 5 mg/mL for the
positive control and then two-fold serially diluted down the
wells. he optical density of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae
was adjusted with MH broth to match that of McFarland
standard, equivalent to 108 colony forming units at 600 nm,
and that of M. aurum A+ was adjusted to 0.125 at 550 nm
using Middlebrook broth enriched with 0.5% glycerol and
10% OADC growth supplement. One hundred microliters
of the diluted culture were added to all the wells. he
microtitre plates were then incubated for 24 h at 37∘ C (S.
aureus and K. pneumoniae) and for 72 h at 37∘ C (M. aurum
A+). Ater incubation, 40 �L of p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet
(INT) indicator (S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) and resazurin
(M. aurum A+) were added to evaluate growth inhibition.
he results were observed ater 30 min for S. aureus and
K. pneumoniae and 24 h for M. aurum A+. he lowest
concentration containing blue (M. aurum A+) and clear wells
(S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) were considered as the MIC
values. he assay was repeated twice with two replicates per
assay.
3. Results and Discussion
he plants selected in this study are all used in South
African traditional medicine for the treatment of TB and
related symptoms. he percentage yield and MIC values of
the plant extract against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus and M.
aurum A+ are presented in Table 2. he highest quantity
of extract yield was observed from the EtOH extract of
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
3
Table 1: Medicinal plants used traditionally in South Africa to treat TB and related symptoms.
Family, species
Amaryllidaceae
Brunsvigia
grandilora
Lindl.
Asparagaceae
Asparagus africanus
Lam.
Asparagaceae
Asparagus falcatus
(L.) Oberm.
Fabaceae
Abrus precatorius
subsp. africanus
Verdc.
Combretaceae
Terminalia
phanerophlebia Engl.
& Diels
Leguminosae
Indigofera arrecta
Benth. ex Harv. &
Sond.
Moraceae
Ficus sur Forssk.
Polygalaceae
Polygala fruticosa P. J.
Bergius
Rubiaceae
Pentanisia
prunelloides
Schinz
Lamiaceae
Leonotis intermedia
Lindl.
Voucher specimen
number
BALUNGI 31
BALUNGI 36
BALUNGI 44
Traditional use
Coughs and colds
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Parts used
Previously screened activity
References
Bulbs
Mutagenic and
antimutagenic activities of
bulbs
[15, 16]
Analgesic and
anti-inlammatory
activities of roots. Two
antiprotozoal compounds
were isolated
[15, 17–19]
Shoots
Leaves, roots
Caryophyllene-type
sesquiterpene lactone
isolated from the leaves was
found to have remarkable
efect on the proliferation
(IC50 1.82 uM).
Antibacterial activity of the
roots
[20–22]
Sedative efects of roots.
Antibacterial and
cytotoxicity activity of
seeds. Five compounds
were isolated and identiied
as isolavan, quinones, and
hydroquinones
[15, 23–26]
BALUNGI 43
Tuberculosis,
bronchitis,
whooping cough, chest
complaints, and asthma
BALUNGI 37
Tuberculosis
Roots
Antibacterial and
antifungal activities of the
leaves
[20, 27]
BALUNGI 41
Tuberculosis
Root
Antibacterial activity of the
leaves
[20, 28]
BALUNGI 39
Tuberculosis/ulceration
of the lung
BALUNGI 35
Tuberculosis, blood
puriication, intestinal
sores,sinusitis, and
gonorrhoea
BALUNGI 40
and 42
Tuberculosis, chest
pain, fever, and
toothache
BALUNGI 38
Colds, coughs,
bronchitis,
asthma, tuberculosis,
high blood pressure,
and jaundice
Leaves, roots
Bark, root
Whole plant
Root
Leaves, stem
Antimalarial and
antibacterial activities of
the leaves.
Antibacterial activity
against Gardnerella
vaginalis and toxicity
[15, 29–31]
[11, 29, 32, 33]
Antibacterial activity
against B. subtilis, S. aureus,
E. coli,and K. pneumonia.
Antiviral activity of leaves
and roots
[15, 29, 34]
Anti-inlammatory activity
[11, 35]
4
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Table 2: he antibacterial (MIC values) efects of plants used traditionally as remedies for the treatment of tuberculosis and related symptoms
in South Africa.
Plant species
Plant part
Extract
Extract yield % (DW)
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
1.03
1.24
3.54
Water
12.50
0.78
0.195
12.50
12.50
12.50
1.56
2.66
12.50
12.50
3.13
6.25
S
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
2.28
2.87
3.42
2.43
12.50
12.50
6.25
1.56
12.50
6.25
0.78
1.56
6.25
3.13
1.56
3.13
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.40
0.50
1.50
6.80
12.50
12.50
6.25
1.56
6.25
6.25
0.39
6.25
12.50
12.50
6.25
12.50
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.80
0.62
2.76
1.00
12.50
12.50
6.25
3.13
3.13
1.56
0.39
2.56
12.50
12.50
3.13
1.56
Bb
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
2.83
0.98
4.47
3.42
12.50
12.50
3.13
3.13
12.50
3.13
3.13
3.13
12.50
6.25
6.25
6.25
B
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.50
0.50
0.60
0.40
12.50
12.50
6.25
6.25
6.25
6.35
3.13
6.25
12.50
12.50
6.25
12.50
R
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
3.20
0.70
7.70
2.10
6.25
6.25
0.78
12.50
12.5
6.25
3.13
3.13
12.50
12.50
0.195
3.13
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
2.66
1.79
11.15
9.69
12.50
6.25
0.39
0.78
12.50
12.50
0.39
Water
6.25
12.50
0.78
12.50
R
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.60
0.70
11.40
0.80
12.50
12.50
3.13
6.35
6.25
1.56
1.56
12.50
12.50
12.50
1.56
12.50
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
1.02
1.00
5.62
3.20
12.50
12.50
6.25
3.13
6.25
12.50
0.195
3.13
12.50
12.50
0.78
1.56
St
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.50
0.60
4.80
3.00
6.25
6.25
3.13
3.13
3.13
12.50
1.56
1.56
12.50
12.50
1.56
6.25
A. precatorius subsp. africanus
A. africanus
A. falcatus
B. grandilora
Antibacterial activity MIC (mg/mL)
Klebsiella
Mycobacterium Staphylococcus
pneumoniae
aurum A+
aureus
F. sur
I. arrecta
L. intermedia
3.13
6.25
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
5
Table 2: Continued.
Plant species
Extract
Extract yield % (DW)
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
1.30
1.40
4.40
1.50
6.25
12.50
3.13
3.13
6.25
12.50
0.39
1.56
12.50
6.25
0.195
0.39
R
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.20
0.20
11.40
6.76
6.25
6.25
0.39
1.56
3.13
12.50
0.78
1.56
12.50
12.50
0.78
1.56
Wp
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
0.73
1.04
16.67
4.84
6.25
6.25
3.13
3.13
1.56
1.56
3.13
3.13
6.25
6.25
1.56
6.25
L
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
0.50
1.20
16.00
9.80
6.25
6.25
1.56
0.39
6.25
6.25
0.195
Water
6.25
6.25
0.195
0.39
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
0.10
0.30
12.90
1.70
6.25
3.13
3.13
6.25
12.50
6.25
0.195
Water
12.50
6.25
1.56
3.13
PE
DCM
80% EtOH
Water
1.00
0.40
11.00
3.70
6.25
6.25
0.195
1.56
3.13
1.56
0.195
1.56
6.25
3.13
0.39
1.56
P. prunelloides
P. fruticosa
T. phanerophlebia
Antibacterial activity MIC (mg/mL)
Klebsiella
Mycobacterium
Staphylococcus
pneumoniae
aurum A+
aureus
Plant part
R
T
Neomycin
Streptomycin
0.0975
0.098
0.39
0.0975
0.195
L: leaves, R: roots, B: bark, Bb: bulb, S: seeds, St: stem, Wp: whole plant, T: twigs, MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration, DCM: dichloromethane, PE:
petroleum ether, EtOH: ethanol, % DW: percentage dry weight Values boldly written are considered very active.
P. fruticosa, whilst the lowest one was from PE extracts
of the roots of T. phanerophlebia. Generally, EtOH was
the best extractant giving the highest mass of extracts
while PE yielded the lowest mass. he masses of the water
extracts were the second highest to EtOH for most of the
species extracted. In this study, only MIC values equal to
or less than 1.0 mg/mL for crude extracts were considered
as exhibiting good activity [43]. Out of 68 extracts tested
from diferent parts of 10 species, 17 were found to have
good antimicrobial activities at least against one or more
of the strains tested. Twelve extracts showed good activity
against M. aurum A+ and 11 against S. aureus. It was observed
that M. aurum A+ was the most susceptible bacterium while
K. pneumoniae was the most resistant with only 6 extracts
showing good activity. Due to lipopolysaccharides present on
their outer membrane, Gram-negative bacteria are usually
impermeable to most antibacterial compounds [44, 45].
his can explain the low number of active extracts against
K. pneumoniae.
he water extract of T. phanerophlebia (leaf) showed
the best activity with the lowest MIC value of 0.098 mg/mL
among the extracts tested. For water extracts only T.
phanerophlebia leaves exhibited good activity against all bacterial species tested with MIC values ranging from 0.098 to
0.39 mg/mL. he water extracts of I. arrecta (leaf), P. prunelloides (leaf), and T. phanerophlebia (root) also showed good
activity against at least one bacterial strain with MIC values
ranging from 0.39 to 0.78 mg/mL. his was encouraging as
many reports oten state that water extracts lack bioactivity
[46]. he evaluation of aqueous extracts aims to mimic the
traditional use; therefore, the observed antibacterial activities
exhibited by water extracts could be of interest. Such plants
are candidates for further studies such as antimycobacterial
evaluation against TB causing bacterial strains.
Comparing the root and leaf extracts of I. arrecta, the
EtOH extracts of the leaf showed good antibacterial activity
against all bacterial species tested with MIC values ranging
from 0.39 to 0.78 mg/mL. For P. prunelloides leaves and
6
roots, the EtOH extracts showed good activity with MIC
values ranging from 0.195 to 0.78 mg/mL against almost all
bacterial species tested. his is noteworthy as it indicates the
presence of bioactive compounds in these plants that might
help to isolate drugs that cure ailments related to respiratory
infection. he palmitic acid previously isolated from roots of
P. prunelloides by Yf et al. [34] could be responsible for the
antimicrobial activity of this plant observed in this study. Yf
et al. [34] also did an antiviral test on the root decoction of P.
prunelloides and reported the inhibition of Inluenza A virus.
hese results make this plant a potentially efective remedy
against respiratory diseases, and the evaluation of palmitic
acid against respiratory microbes is required.
For T. phanerophlebia leaf, root, and twig extracts, the
EtOH extracts showed good activity against almost all bacterial strains tested with MIC values ranging from 0.098 to
0.39 mg/mL. his, however, was excluding the leaf extract
that did not exhibit good activity against one strain and
root extract that also did not show good activity against two
strains. In a study on antimicrobial properties done by Shai
et al. [27] against S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus
faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the leaf extracts of T.
phanerophlebia exhibited good antimicrobial activity which
was also the case in our study against the tested bacteria.
In addition, in a literature investigation conducted by Nair
et al. [47], several alkaloids were reported to have been
isolated from the stem of T. phanerophlebia which exhibited
cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme activity. he antimicrobial activity
observed from diferent parts of this plant might be due
to those alkaloids (cholestane triterpenoids �-sitostenone,
stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione, and �-sitosterol). It is, therefore,
important to evaluate these compounds in bioassays against
these microorganisms. Among the bark and root extracts of
F. sur, only the EtOH extract (root) showed good activity
with an MIC value of 0.78 mg/mL against K. pneumoniae
and 0.195 mg/mL against S. aureus. he activity of this plant
could be due to the triterpene compounds found in the latex
isolated in a previous study by Feleke and Brehane [48], which
also warrants testing in similar bioassays.
Among the leaf and stem of L. intermedia, the EtOH
extract (leaf) showed good activity with MIC value of 0.195
against M. aurum A+ and 0.78 against S. aureus. hese
indings are very interesting as they indicate the antimicrobial
activity of this plant. Of all the extracts of A. africanus and A.
falcatus, good activity was observed only in the EtOH extracts
with both having an MIC value of 0.39 mg/mL against M.
aurum A+. Asparagus species are known to have steroidal
saponins as their major bioactive constituents; therefore, the
antimycobacterial activity of these two species of Asparagus
could be due to saponins [49]. However, among all extracts
of the leaves and seeds of A. precatorius subsp. africanus,
only the EtOH (leaves and seeds) and DCM extracts (leaves)
showed good activity with MIC values ranging from 0.195
to 0.78 mg/mL against M. aurum A+ only. Phytochemical
research done in a previous study by Taur and Patil [50]
from the root and aerial part of this plant showed the presence of triterpenoids and saponins. Saponins are known to
have broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including
antimicrobial properties [51]. In view of the fact that these
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
plants were selected based on their traditional uses against
TB and related symptoms, these indings are noteworthy.
However, all the extracts of B. grandilora and P. fruticosa
did not show good activity against all bacterial species
tested despite being reported to be used in the treatment
of TB and related symptoms. However, bioactivity cannot
be completely ruled out from such plant species as they
could be active against other bacterial strains that cause
respiratory ailments. he other possible explanation could be
that antimicrobial efects of these plants are not mediated
through direct inhibition on microbial growth but rather
through immunostimulation or the compounds potentially
active require metabolic activation by certain enzyme in vivo
[52].
4. Conclusion
Two or more extracts of A. precatorius subsp. africanus, T.
phanerophlebia, I. arrecta, and P. prunelloides showed good
antimicrobial activity against at least one or more of the bacterial strains tested. herefore, the good antimicrobial properties of A. precatorius subsp. africanus, T. phanerophlebia, I.
arrecta, and P. prunelloides found in this study form a good
basis for further pharmacological (such as antimycobacterial
evaluation against infectious TB microorganisms) and phytochemical investigation, and they validate the traditional use of
these plants in the treatment of respiratory diseases in South
Africa. he fact that some species of plants did not display
good antimicrobial activity does not mean that they may have
the same efect in vivo; thus, it should be noted that they
only demonstrated weak activity in vitro. Additionally, weak
activity might mean that the plant species are used to treat
the symptoms of various respiratory ailments rather than the
disease itself.
Acknowledgments
he National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria, Canon
Collins GreenMatter Fellowship, Claude Leon Foundation,
and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) are thanked
for providing inancial support. he authors also wish to
acknowledge Mrs. Alison Young (Horticulturist, UKZN) and
Dr. Christina Curry, (Herbarium, NU) for the help in plant
identiication and the handling of herbarium specimens.
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