Author(s)

Praise Olufunmilola Ojo¹, Hausatu Babayi^1*, Israel Kayode Olayemi², Oladosun Oluwale Peter³, Labake Ajoke Fadipe⁴, Elisha Baba⁵, Kasim Izebe³

¹Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
²Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
³Department of Microbiology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu-Abuja, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
⁵Clinic, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu-Abuja, Nigeria.

Leech salivary extract (LSE) was screened for the anti-tubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using microbroth dilution method. The bioactive components in LSE were determined using Shimadzu GC-MS QP2010 SE. The LSE exhibited bactericidal effects on M. tuberculosis at 50% (v/v). The result of the GC-MS analysis of LSE revealed seventeen (17) bioactive components. The major fatty acid components were oleic acid (33.9%) and palmitic acid also known as hexadecanoic acid (22.6%). Other bioactive components detected in appreciable amounts in LSE include, 4-bromobutyric acid (16.86%), 6,17-Octadiene-1-ol acetate (9.78%) and octahydro-1,4,9,9- tetramethyl (5.21%). The anti-tubercular activity of the LSE was attributed to these bioactive components. The results obtained suggest that leech salivary extract could be used in treating tuberculosis.

GC-MS, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Leech Salivary Extract

Ojo, P. , Babayi, H. , Olayemi, I. , Peter, O. , Fadipe, L. , Baba, E. and Izebe, K. (2018) Anti-Tubercular Activities and Molecular Characterization of Salivary Extract of Leech (Hirudo medicinalis) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of Tuberculosis Research, 6, 1-9. doi: 10.4236/jtr.2018.61001.