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The possible value of <i.Prosopis Africana</i> (leguminaceae) in the treatment of tuberculosis


PO Odumosu
SO Otimenyin
Y Ngwai

Abstract

Prosopis africana, Family Leguminoceae, is used in ethnomedicine to treat different ailments including, malaria in Nigeria, male sterility in Sudan and as a cardiotonic agent in Senegal. This research aims at evaluating the antituberculosis activity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory action of the stem bark extract of P. africana. Preliminary studies using the agar dilution method show that the stem bark extract of Prosopis africana (1000, 1500, 2000 ìg/ml) has
inhibitory activity against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative organism of tuberculosis (TB). It also significantly inhibited B. subtilis and S. aureus but not the gram-negative organisms: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhii and yeast (C. albicans) at all test concentrations (1000, 2000, 3000 ìg/ml). Aqueous extracts of Prosopis (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p) significantly inhibited acetic acid induced writhing in mice and a dose and timedependent
inhibition of the egg white induced paw oedema (P<0.05). The study provides evidence of activity against clinical isolate of mycobacteria, significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and provides a basis for its possible use as an affordable and effective anti-TB agent from natural product.

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eISSN: 2635-3555
print ISSN: 0189-8434