Phytochemistry of plant extracts active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ZIOMEK M.; CARPINELLA M. C.; SIENIAWSKA E.

Congreso; The 5th International Conference on Natural Products Utilization: from Plants to Pharmacy Shelf; 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a mycobacteriumhaving a specific waxy outer envelope, which is impermeable to drugs andother compounds [1]. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has reversedyears of global progress in reducing the number of people who die fromTB, with the estimated number of deaths in 2020 back to the level of 2017.Additionally, the emergence of highly resistant strains complicates the treatment,which often fails to successfully eradicate the bacteria [2]. For thesereasons, new therapeutic schemes are needed to increase the treatmentsuccess rate. Such schemes include adjuvant compounds originating fromplants. Natural resources have been explored for their antimicrobial activityfor decades. Many compounds originating from plants, bacteria or fungi havefound application in the treatment of infectious diseases. The screening forantimycobacterial molecules is ongoing and results in the discovery of potentanti-TB secondary metabolites.The flora of Argentina is a valuable source of compounds, which are activeagainst numerous human ailments. Some ethanolic extracts obtained fromplant species collected in Argentina, have demonstrated a potent antimycobacterialactivity against Mtb H37Ra, with minimal inhibitory concentrations≤64 μg/mL. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was thenapplied to investigate the phytochemical profiles for the most active extracts.The aim was to check the type of molecules present in active extracts andif they share chemical similarities. Most of the studied samples [Aristolochiaargentina Griseb.; Buxus sempervirens L.; Gaillardia megapotamica (Spreng.)Baker. and Petunia axillaris Briton, Stern & Poggenb.] were abundant in phenoliccompounds, characteristic for ethanolic extracts.