In vitro evaluation of the anti-mycobacterial properties of the extracts of Momordica Charantia

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease and remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. One fourth of the world population is infected with TB at a risk of developing disease. The increase in the incidence of drug resistant TB around the world urges the need to develop a new candidate to fight against the disease. Plants were considered as the rich source of bioactive components to be used as potential drugs. Medicinal plants are used in pure as well as crude materials for their medicinal properties. Our research aims in identifying the phyto-molecules which have anti- tuberculosis property. Four medicinal plants namely, Acalyphaciliata (Kuppaimeni), Solanumtrilobatum (Thuthuvalai), Momordicacharantia (Bitter Gourd) and Sennaauriculata (Avaram) were chosen to evaluate their antimicrobial activity focusing on anti-tubercular activity. The methanol extracts of the medicinal plants showed significant inhibitory activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Sennaauriculata methanol extracts showed activity against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. In the screening of antimycobacterial activity done by LRP assay, among the plant extracts tested, the hexane crude extracts of Momordicacharantia (Bitter Gourd) showed 82.2% and 81.03% of inhibition against M. tuberculosis H37Rv at 500µg/ml and 250µg/ml concentration respectively. Similarly, the methanol crude extracts of Momordicacharantia showed 87.14% and 63.55% of inhibition at 500µg/ml and 250µg/ml concentration respectively.