Effects of crude aqueous garlic extract on multi-drug resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium smegmatis

Abstract

The present havoc due to a global resurgence of tuberculosis (TB), and a swift rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB and extensively-drug resistant (XDR)-TB cases in India makes search for novel anti-tubercular herbal medicines an absolute mandate. In this research work, the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of freshly-prepared, crude aqueous extract of both multi-clove and single-clove varieties of garlic (Allium sativum L.) against MDR-Mycobacterium smegmatis (the bacterium sharing similar cell-wall structure-composition as the MDR-M. tuberculosis) was determined to be 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml respectively by broth-dilution-technique, and both values confirmed by spread-plate technique. Re-confirmation of the MBC was carried out through microscopic analyses after standard acid-fast staining, and biochemical determination of the specific activities of bacterial enzymes like catalase and NADH dehydrogenase. All these positive findings, once substantiated by successful human trials, would firmly establish the importance of green pharmacy and garlic in the treatment of DR-TB in India.