Antimycobacterial screening of plants from Benin on Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causal agent of Buruli ulcer..............

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose 01 this study is to investigate the antimycobacterial activit)' against Mycobacterillm II/cerans of plants used in traditional medicine in Benin to treat Buruli uleer (BU). Out of 49 plants identified, 44 were seJected and screened. erude extracts of leaves, fruit seeds, and roots were prepared and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were deterrnined using an adapted Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). The cruùe extracts of Holarrhenn floribu71dn (G.Don) T. Durand and Schinz and Jatroplta curcas Linn showed inhibitory activity against M. ufceralls at concentrations of 125 and 250 "g/ml respectively. The adapted REMA method used in this study to de/ermine the MIC values of natural product is simple, sensitive, and rapid, and could be a method of choice to successfully assess antibacteriaI properties of plants extracts against M. ulcerans. This can also contribute to document traditional treatment of IlU.