Biological activities of Viscum tuberculatum aqueous leaf extract

Abstract

Content

Plant-based natural products have served as sources of remedies against pathogenic microorganisms. Although the biological activities of Viscum (Santalaceae) species are widely recognized, there is no scientific evidence for Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. in Ethiopia.

Objective

To investigate the antimicrobial, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory properties and phytochemical constituents of an aqueous extract of V. tuberculatum from Ethiopia.

Materials and methods

The antibacterial activity of the aqueous leaf extract of V. tuberculatum was tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of this extract were determined using the broth macrodilution method. The acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract were investigated using standard procedures on female and male white albino mice, aged 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. The phytochemical constituents of V. tuberculatum were determined using LC–MS QTOF.

Results

The MIC and MBC values against S. aureus were found to be 6.25 and 100 mg/mL. The LD₅₀ value was more than 2000 mg/kg body weight of the mouse. The 400 mg/kg dose exerts 87% inhibition after 5 h of carrageenan injection. Twenty-five different metabolites, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids and alkaloids, were identified.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate the potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous extract of V. tuberculatum.

Keywords:

• Antibacterial activity
• anti-inflammatory activity
• acute toxicity
• metabolite
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Escherichia coli
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

We thank Addis Ababa University (AAU) and the EPHI for providing technical support and bacterial strains. AY is grateful to Marlies Spohn, Helmut Spohn, Dr. Adey Feleke, Dr. Rahul Datta, Mr. Melaku Wondafrash and his colleagues at Ethiopian Forest Development, Central Ethiopia Center and AAU for their unreserved assistance and encouragement throughout his study.

Author contributions

AY developed the project, collected the samples; AY and YM proposed and planned the work; AY and AE performed animal experiments; AS and FV performed metabolomic analysis; AY analysed the data and prepared the original manuscript; YM supervised the work; YM and FV reviewed the manuscript and provided comments. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.