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Native New Zealand plants with inhibitory activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis
METHODS: Laurelia novae-zelandiae and 44 other native plants were tested for direct anti-bacterial activity. Plants were extracted with different solvents and extracts screened for inhibition of the surrogate species, Mycobacterium smegmatis. Active plant samples were then tested for bacteriostatic activity towards M. tuberculosis and other clinically-important species.
RESULTS: Extracts of six native plants were active against M. smegmatis. Many of these were also inhibitory towards M. tuberculosis including Laurelia novae-zelandiae (Pukatea). M. excelsa (Pohutukawa) was the only plant extract tested that was active against Staphylococcus aureus.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide support for the traditional use of Pukatea in treating tuberculosis. In addition, our analyses indicate that other native plant species possess antibiotic activity.
History
Publication title
BMC Alternative MedicineVolume
10Article number
25Number
25Pagination
1-7ISSN
1472-6882Department/School
Tasmanian School of MedicinePublisher
BioMed Central Ltd.Place of publication
United KingdomRepository Status
- Restricted