Antitubercular activity of the dried fruits of Acacia nilotica Linn Willd

Ethnobotanical survey revealed that the dried fruits of Acacia nilotica Linn Willd of the family mimosaceae are used locally in various parts of Nigeria for the treatment of boil, cough and chest infections. This prompted the phytochemical and antitubercular screening of its fruit extracts. Preliminary Antitubercular activity of its aqueous methanolic extract was carried out by the use of BCG as test organism. It showed antitubercular activity with MIC of 1250μg/ml. Gradient column chromatographic separation of the whole extract yielded six fractions (FR1-FR6). These fractions were evaluated for antitubercular activities. Fractions FR2, FR3 & FR4 showed significant antitubercular activities with MIC of 78μg/ml. Phytochemical spray with ferric chloride solution showed that the active fractions (FR2- FR4) are mainly polyphenolics (tannins). The antitubercular activity of this extract is being reported for the first time. Further studies to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds are ongoing. Keywords : Acacia nilotica , Tuberculosis, mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bioguided column fractionation. JOPAT Vol. 12 2007: pp. 76-79