title: Antimycobacterial activity of medicinal plants against the causative agent of buruli ulcer: Mycobacterium ulcerans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Buruli ulcer, known as necrotizing skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, has emerged as the most prevalent mycobacteriosis after leprosy and tuberculosis. Accordingly, it has been classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected disease with high significance in tropical areas, including Cameroon. So far, the control of the disease relies mainly on the rifampin-streptomycin combination. Despite its efficiency, it has shown considerable issues, including availability and side effects. Therefore, more effective and safer drugs are urgently warranted. For this fact, natural plant-based products have always been of great importance in drug discovery. Therefore, the present study was initiated to assess the antimycobacterial properties of four medicinal plants against M. ulcerans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methanolic and aqueous crude extracts prepared from Ficus binjamina, Ficus elastica, Ficus saussureana, and Terminalia superba were screened against M. ulcerans using the resazurin microtiter assay method. The phytochemical screening of promising extracts was performed to reveal bioactive components that might explain the exhibited activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 24 tested extracts, 11 extracts showed promising activity with minimal inhibitory concentration ranging from 62.5μg/mL to 250μg/mL. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tanins, triterpenes, glucosides, and saponins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results further strengthened the exploitation of these extracts as potent hits in the treatment of Buruli ulcer. Meanwhile, further studies are required to fully characterize the bioactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. Electronic address: rkeumoe@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keumoe
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nguembou
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
authors.forename: F P V
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Tsouh
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: D V F
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Donkeng
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dize
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Clinical Pathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana; Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Y L R
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tchokouaha
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: M C D
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jiatsa
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: F R D
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Youmsi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ngameni
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial and Biocontrol Agents Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Fekam
keywords: Antimycobacterial activity; Chemical composition; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Plant extract