EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-MYCOBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM ASCALONICUM AND ALLIUM SATIVUM

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the organism causing tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Plant-based drugs have been used worldwide in traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases including tuberculosis. Medicinal plants are an important source of new antimicrobial agents and remain an attractive alternative strategy. The present study was performed to evaluate anti-MTB activity of two medicinal plants viz., Allium ascalonicum, and Allium sativum. Different concentrations of extracts of these plants were tested for their anti MTB activity against MTBH37Rv strain and the inhibitory activity was expressed as CFU inhibition, % inhibition and IC50. In our study Allium sativum showed higher anti TB activity however this bactericidal property was not signi?cantly different between each groups. The overall anti mycobacterial activity of these extracts might be attributed due to the presence of ?avonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins and other phytoconstituents. The extract of the plant also exhibited promising antitubercular activity.