Abstract
Sutherlandia frutescens (L) R. Br. contains several essential, bioactive compounds with clinically proven pharmacological activities. Sutherlandia is prescribed for people with tuberculosis but it is still not known what compounds in this plant act against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its mode of action. This study is aimed at determining if S. frutescens extracts contain antimycobacterial compounds. Aerial parts of S. frutescens were dried, ground and extracted with ethanol, dichloromethane: methanol 1:1 (v/v) and water. The chemical profiling was done using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) and thin layer chromatography (TLC). TLC plates were developed in butanol:acetic acid:water (BAW) to the ratio of 21:6:3; chloroform:methanol:water:formic acid (CMWF1) [60:15:2:1] and (CMWF2) [21:9:1:0.3]. Qualitative antioxidant activity was done, using 2.2-diphenylpacryl-1-hydrazyl (DPPH). Antimycobacterial activity of the plant extracts was evaluated, using micro-dilution and bioautographic methods against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Low antimycobacterial activity against M. smegmatis was observed on the bioautograms. The ethanol extracts contained more compounds compared to water extracts on HPLC-MS chromatographic profiles. The average Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values for all the extracts were 0.61 mg/mL units and the DCM:MeOH (1:1) extract had the lowest MIC value of 0.28 mg/mL. The results showed that the plant could be further explored for possible antimycobacterial agents. Low activity was observed, possibly due to low replication of bacilli and non-replicating organisms. The study provides preliminary scientific validation of the traditional medicinal use of this plant. Further studies are required to identify the bioactive compounds in the DCM:MeOH 1:1 extract which showed significant antimycobacterial activities. Research correlation: This article is the original version, of which an Afrikaans translation was made available to provide access to a larger readership, available here: https://doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v36i1.1494
Highlights
Sutherlandia frutescens is a well-known and much used, commercially cultivated indigenous medicinal plant in southern Africa
Sutherlandia is recommended by the South African Department of Health as a supporting treatment for people living with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Mills et al 2005:1; SA Healthinfo 2009:1; Seier et al 2002:1)
While Sutherlandia is prescribed for people with TB, it is still not known if the extracts have antimycobacterial activity and what compounds in this plant might act against M. tuberculosis and its mode of action
Summary
Sutherlandia frutescens is a well-known and much used, commercially cultivated indigenous medicinal plant in southern Africa. S. frutescens contains several essential bioactive compounds with clinically proven pharmacological activities (Haraguchi 2001:1; Ojewole 2008:126; Prevoo, Swart & Swart 2008:118) This makes the plant attractive as a medicine for various ailments and diseases. Sutherlandia is recommended by the South African Department of Health as a supporting treatment for people living with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Mills et al 2005:1; SA Healthinfo 2009:1; Seier et al 2002:1) It is prescribed for treatment of cancer, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes, anxiety and clinical depression (Mills et al 2005:1; SA Healthinfo 2009:1; Van Wyk 1997). This study set out to provide preliminary data on in vitro antimycobacterial activity as a first step to further investigations
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