Abstract

The resurgence of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is associated with the rapid spread of multidrug-resistant; therefore, the development of new antimycobacterial agents is necessary, especially from the natural product. Binahong (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) v.Steenis) leaves are known to have antimicrobial activity in a variety of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus.cereus, Bacillus.subtilis, and Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values below 300 µg/mL. Based on this information, binahong leaves are potential for further development as an antimycobacterial agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimycobacterial activity extracts of binahong leaves when it is used itself without any combination and when it is combined with tuberculosis drugs. Extraction was done by three different solvents with the increasing polarity. MTB H37Rv sensitive strain, streptomycin-rifampicin resistant strain, and isoniazid-ethambutol resistant strain were evaluated by susceptibility test by using a serial number of extract (50 µg/mL–1000 µg/mL). MICs were read as a minimum concentration of drugs that completely inhibited visible growth of an organism. A Combination study of the extract with the antituberculosis drug was determined by susceptibility test in Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) media by calculating the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI). The result showed that n-hexane extract of binahong leaves has the greater activity to inhibit the growth of MTB than other extracts. The MIC values for n-hexane extract were 500 µg/ mL for H37Rv sensitive strain and rifampicin-streptomycin resistant strain, and 250 µg/ mL for an isoniazid-ethambutol resistant strain. The combination of n-hexane extract and antituberculosis drugs also displayed synergistic interaction and no antagonism result from the combination was observed for both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strain of MTB.

Key words: Anredera cordifolia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Drug Combination, Susceptibility Test