Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of Petiviera alliacea extracts against drug-sensitive and resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. P. alliaceawas extracted with ethanol using the maceration method. The proportional method was used to test the anti-mycobacterial activity in ethanol extract against drug-sensitive and resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. Drug-sensitive and resistant H37Rv strains of M.tuberculosis were resistant to ethambutol and isoniazide (EH) and resistant to streptomycin and rifampicin (SR). Tests were conducted in vitro on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium that was mixed with various concentrations of extracts, inoculated with bacterial suspensions, and incubated at 37°C. Microbial growth was observed every week starting from Week 4 to Week 8 after inoculation to rule out possibility of delayed suppressed growth. Standard drugs were used for comparison. The ethanol extract of P.alliacea was found to be active against M. tuberculosis at concentrations of 1280 and 2560 µg/ml. it was concluded that the activity of P. alliacea inhibits the growth of M.tuberculosis better than standard drugs. Further testing is needed to identify its beneficial components.

Key words: Petiveria alliacea, anti-mycobacterial, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.