The possible value of (leguminaceae) in the treatment of tuberculosis

Abstract

Prosopis africana, Family Leguminoceae, is used in ethnomedicine to treat different ailments including, malaria in Nigeria, male sterility in Sudan and as a cardiotonic agent in Senegal. This research aims at evaluating the antituberculosis activity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of the stem bark extract of P. africana. Preliminary studies using the agar dilution method show that the stem bark extract of Prosopis africana (1000, 1500, 2000 ìg/ml) has
inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of tuberculosis (TB). It also significantly inhibited B. subtilis and S. aureus but not the gram-negative organisms: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhii and yeast (C. albicans) at all test concentrations (1000, 2000, 3000 ìg/ml). Aqueous extracts of Prosopis (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p) significantly inhibited acetic acid induced writhing in mice and a dose and timedependent
inhibition of the egg white induced paw oedema (P<0.05). The study provides evidence of activity against clinical isolate of mycobacteria, significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and provides a basis for its possible use as an affordable and effective anti-TB agent from natural product.