The anti-tubercular activity of Melia azedarach L. and Lobelia chinensis Lour. and their potential as effective anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis candidate agents

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Objective: To evaluate the anti-mycobacterial activity of Melia azedarach L. (M. azedarach) and Lobelia chinensis Lour. (L. chinensis) extracts against the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Methods: The anti-M. tuberculosis activity of M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts were evaluated using different indicator methods such as resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system assay. The M. tuberculosis was incubated with various concentrations (50-800 mg/mL) of the extracts for 5 days in the REMA, and for 4 weeks in MGIT 960 system assay. Results: M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts showed their anti-M. tuberculosis activity by strongly inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in a concentration-dependent manner in the REMA and the MGIT 960 system assay. Particularly, the methanol extract of M. azedarach and n-hexane extract of L. chinensis consistently exhibited their effects by effectively inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in MGIT 960 system for 4 weeks with a single-treatment, indicating higher anti-M. tuberculosis activity than other extracts,and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured as 400 mg/mL and 800 mg/ mL, respectively. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts not only have unique anti-M. tuberculosis activity, but also induce the selective anti-M. tuberculosis effects by consistently inhibiting or blocking the growth of M. tuberculosis through a new pharmacological action. Therefore, this study suggests the potential of them as effective candidate agents of next-generation for developing a new anti-tuberculosis drug, as well as the advantage for utilizing traditional medicinal plants as one of effective strategies against tuberculosis.

Evaluation of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Effect of Ursolic Acid as a Novel Toxoplasmosis Inhibitor

“…Until recently, it was reported that various extracts and/or natural products derived from medicinal plants had the possibility of useful medical resources for treating infectious virus diseases, including middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), dengue fever or Zika fever, as well as showed in vitro inhibitory effects against chronic diseases, such as hepatitis, cancer, and tuberculosis [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Although various extracts derived from traditional medicinal plants and its natural compounds were reported to indicate anti- T. gondii activities/effects [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], an effective drug of the next generation for the treatment of toxoplasmosis caused by T. gondii has not yet been developed through the clinical study.…”

Simultaneous Determination of Four Marker Compounds in Lobelia chinensis Lour. Extract by HPLC-PDA

“…According to the records of the TCM book "Ben Cao Gang Mu", it has been used to treat snake bites, diarrhea, jaundice, edema, and high fevers due to malaria [1]. In addition, pharmacological studies have reported that L. chinensis has anti-inflammatory [2], anti-oxidative [2,3], anti-viral [4,5], anti-obesity [6], anti-tuberculosis [7], anticancer [8], and antitumor [9,10] activities.…”

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Multiple Pathways of <i>Lobelia chinensis</i> in Inhibiting <i>Streptococcus pyogenes</i>

“…The main ingredients of Lobelia chinensis are alkaloids and flavones [11], which are often used as antibacterial drugs against infection. Experimental studies show that Lobelia chinensis is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria [12,13]. According to the diameter of the antibacterial circle and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), Lobelia chinensis has a better inhibitory effect on Streptococcus pyogenes.…”