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

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium ulcerans of plants used in traditional medicine in Benin to treat Buruli ulcer (BU). Out of 49 plants identified, 44 were selected and screened. Crude extracts of leaves, fruit seeds, and roots were prepared and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined using an adapted Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). The crude extracts of Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) T. Durand and Schinz and Jatropha curcas Linn showed inhibitory activity against M. ulcerans at concentrations of 125 and 250 μg/ml respectively. The adapted REMA method used in this study to determine the MIC values of natural product is simple, sensitive, and rapid, and could be a method of choice to successfully assess antibacterial properties of plants extracts against M. ulcerans. This can also contribute to document traditional treatment of BU.