In vitro, evaluation of anti-mycobacterial active plant extracts against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using BACTEC mycobacteria growth indicator tube 960 automated system

The emergence of drug-resistant Tuberculosis has become a global health problem. Herbal drugs promise other potential options for Tuberculosis treatment. This study aimed to investigate the anti-mycobacterial activity of three plants: Piper longum, Cressa cretica and Calotropis gigantea. The methanolic extract of these plants was tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the BACTEC MGIT-960 Automated system, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined. The extracts exhibited inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with Piper longum and Cressa cretica inhibiting at 125 μg/ml and Calotropis gigantea inhibiting at 250 μg/ml. However, the standard drugs isoniazid and rifampicin showed higher inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis at concentrations of 0.05 μg/mL and 0.12 μg/mL, respectively, compared to the crude plant extracts. This study highlights the anti-tuberculous potential of Piper longum and Cressa cretica as anti-mycobacterial agents. Nevertheless, further purification, molecular characterization and in vivo testing are necessary to evaluate their efficacy as novel anti-TB agents.