New finding of an anti-TB compound in the genus Marsypopetalum (Annonaceae) from a traditional herbal remedy of Laos

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance There is widespread use of traditional herbal remedies in the Lao PDR (Laos). It is common practice to treat many diseases with local plants. This research project documented and analysed some of these traditional remedies used to treat symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). Materials and methods This research was executed by interviewing healers about plants used traditionally to treat the symptoms of TB. Samples of some of the plants were collected, and extracts of 77 species were submitted to various in vitro assays in order to determine the amount of growth inhibition of virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (Mtb), as opposed to other microbes and mammalian Vero cells. Results Interviews took place with 58 contemporary healers in 5 different provinces about plants currently used, giving a list of 341 plants. Bioassay-guided fractionation was performed on Marsypopetalum modestum (Pierre) B. Xue & R.M.K. Saunders (Annonaceae), leading to the isolation of dipyrithione, an anti-mycobacterial compound isolated for the first time from the genus Marsypopetalum through this research. Conclusions This research has helped to increase awareness of Laos’ rich diversity of medicinal plants and will hopefully provide incentive to preserve the undeveloped forested areas that remain, which still hold a wealth of medical information for future discoveries.

Anti-tubercular substances produced by plants

“…3-α-tigloyl-melianol has no toxicity on Vero cells which is very important for further research [16]. [5][6][7][8] South America is another huge area where folk medicine is the main treatment. Allophylus edulis is an endemic plant of the region which is commonly known as a good anti-inflammatory remedy.…”

“…A similar situation exists in Laos, where healers use 77 various plants, of which only 10% display any anti-mycobacterial activity. The most potent seems to be Marsypopetalum modestum MIC from 1.33-23.52 µg/ml [6]. A review of folk medicine plants from Southeast Asia shows that 24.2% of extract from 132 species used in ethnomedicine have significant anti-mycobacterial activity (MIC less than 100 µg/ml).…”

Ethnobotany of Tuberculosis in Laos

“…The results of the initial primary screening results are presented in a paper by Elkington et al ( 2014b ).…”

“…The collection numbers in parentheses represent the voucher herbarium specimen numbers. All extracts were tested at 100 μg/mL a Recollections of species marked by an asterisk did not exhibit activity in the bioassays 3 Biochemical Validation ( 2009 ), where the spelling for the common name is Tin Tang Teeyah and the taxonomic identity was Polyalthia sp., and later, when the spelling for the common name was changed to Tin Tang Tia and the taxonomic identity was determined to be a Marsypopetalum species (Elkington et al 2014b ).…”

Antituberculosis Activity of Brotowali (Tinospora crispa) Extract and Fractions against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using Microplate Alamar Blue Assay Method

“…Some preliminary research reported the activity of T. crispa against M. tuberculosis. Ethanolic extract of T. crispa from Laos has antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 2,43 -96,2 µg/ml (Elkington et al, 2014). But there has been no report about the antimycobacterial activity of T. crispa that grows in Indonesia and its fractions or isolates.…”