Phytochemical screening, antimycobacterial activity and acute toxicity of crude extracts of selected medicinal plant species used locally in the treatment of tuberculosis in Uganda

This study aimed at conducting phytochemical screening, antimycobacterial activity, and acute toxicity of selected plant species’ crude extracts to assess their toxicological potentials and efficacies against TB. The aqueous and methanol/dichloromethane extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening and antimycobacterial activity testing using microplate alamar blue assay. Results showed the extracts contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, resins, cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds, and coumarins. Methanol/DCM extracts showed significant to moderate activity against susceptible TB strain and moderate to weak activity against MDR-TB strain. The selected plant extracts exhibited low acute toxicity levels except for A. coriaria and could be safe for formulations into herbal products.