Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28606081›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2017

Isolation of anti-mycobacterial compounds from Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm (Curtisiaceae).

Victor O Fadipe, Nkoana I Mongalo, Andy R Opoku, Preachers M Dikhoba, Tshepiso J Makhafola

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review.Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Toxicology reports · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Potential Anti-Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021
    Review
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. Ursolic Acid and Its Derivatives as Bioactive Agents.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019
    Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Victor O FadipeDepartment of Chemistry, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001,KwaDlangezwa, Richards Bay, 3886, South Africa.
Nkoana I MongaloCollege of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Laboratories, Eureka Building-Laboratory 139, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida, Johannesburg, 0710, South Africa. Mongani@unisa.ac.za.
Andy R OpokuDepartment of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, Richards Bay, 3886, South Africa.
Preachers M DikhobaResearch, Innovation & Engagements Portfolio, Mangosuthu University of Technology, P O Box 12363, Durban, 4026, South Africa.
Tshepiso J MakhafolaResearch, Innovation & Engagements Portfolio, Mangosuthu University of Technology, P O Box 12363, Durban, 4026, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTuberculosis is counted amongst the most infectious and lethal illnesses worldwide and remains one of the major threats to human health. The aim of the current study was to isolate and characterize anti-mycobacterial compounds present in Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm , a medicinal plant reportedly used in the treatment of tuberculosis, stomach ailments and sexually transmitted infections.

methodsThe bioassay guided principle was followed to isolate the anti-mycobacterial compounds. The crude ethanol extracts of the leaves was partitioned with various solvents four compounds such as β-sitosterol, betulinic acid, ursolic acid and lupeol were successfully isolated. The compounds and their derivatives were evaluated for anti-mycobacterial activity using Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV (ATCC 27294). Furthermore, the derivatives were investigated for their toxicity against HepG2 and HEK293 using the MTT assay.

resultsThe methanol fraction had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 22.2 μg/ml against the selected Mycobacterium strain when compared to other fractions. Ursolic acid acetate (UAA) was the most active compound with MIC value of 3.4 μg/ml. The derivatives had varying degrees of toxicity, but were generally non-toxic to the selected cell lines. Derivatives also exhibited highest selectivity index and offers a higher safety margin.

conclusionsThe derivatives had better antimicrobial activity and low cytotoxic effects compared to isolated compounds. These increased their selectivity. It appears that acetylation of both betulinic acid and ursolic acid increased their activity against the selected Mycobacterium species. The results obtained in this study gives a clear indication that Curtisia dentata may serve as major source of new alternative medicines that may be used to treat TB. Furthermore, there is a need to explore the activity of these tested plant against other pathogenic Mycobacterium species.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsCell SurvivalHEK293 CellsHumansMagnoliopsidaMicrobial Sensitivity TestsMycobacterium tuberculosisPlant ExtractsPlant LeavesAnti-Bacterial AgentsPlant ExtractsAnti-mycobacterial activityCurtisia dentataCytotoxicityUrsolic acidβ-sitosterol

Identifiers

PMID28606081
PMCPMC5469045

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.