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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Isolation of alpha-linolenic acid from Sutherlandia frutescens and its inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ shikimate kinase enzyme

Authors: Peter Masoko, Itumeleng H. Mabusa, Rachmond L. Howard

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Sutherlandia frutescens (L) R.Br. is one of traditional herbal medicines that formed the basis of primary health care systems since the earliest days and is still widely used. Sutherlandia is prescribed for people with tuberculosis (TB), but is still not known which compound(s) acts against M. tuberculosis and its mode of action. The aim of this study was to identify and isolate antimycobacterial compounds from S. frutescens extracts against shikimate kinase, a drug target for M. tuberculosis.

Methods

S. frutescens were dried, ground and extracted with ethanol, dichloromethane: methanol and water. Fractionation and separation of compounds was done with column chromatography. Chromatograms were developed in butanol/acetic acid/water (BAW) [21:6:3]; chloroform/methanol/water/formic acid (CMWF1) [60:15:2:1] and (CMWF2) [21:9:1:0.3]. Separation and isolation of active compounds were done using preparative HPLC. The activity of the plant extracts were also screened against shikimate kinase enzyme (MtbSK) using the MtbSK inhibition assay.

Results

The DCM: MeOH (1:1) extract showed a high percentage inhibition (with an IC₅₀ of 0.1 μg/ml) of MtbSK and the purified inhibitor was an Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) compound and it had a significant IC₅₀ of 3.7 μg/ml.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that ALA from S. frustescens is an inhibitor of shikimate kinase a good drug target for M. tuberculosis.

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Title: Isolation of alpha-linolenic acid from Sutherlandia frutescens and its inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ shikimate kinase enzyme
Authors: Peter Masoko
Itumeleng H. Mabusa
Rachmond L. Howard
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1344-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Isolation of alpha-linolenic acid from Sutherlandia frutescens and its inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ shikimate kinase enzyme

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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