Aloe vera and its potency as antituberculosis against strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to some tuberculosis drugs

Introduction: Aloe vera has anti-bacterial ability against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; however, anti-bacterial study, especially in multidrug resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has not been evaluated yet. This study aims to determine the potential of Aloe vera as an antituberculosis against drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.
Method: Stages of research include the production of ethanol extract of Aloe vera, then testing the phytochemicals (identification of alkaloids, steroids/triterpenoids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, tannins) and chemical content testing by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The anti-bacterial test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was performed on the Lowenstein Jensen media.
Results: Test results showed the qualitative identification, and TLC contains alkaloids, steroids/triterpenoids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. Antioxidant activity against DPPH radical shows an IC50 value of 6927.133 ppm. Test of anti-bacterial activity to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37Rv and MDR TB strains HE (resistant to INH and Ethambutol), and SR (resistant to streptomycin and Rifampicin) showed inhibition ranging concentration of 50 mg/mL in all extracts as well as to test the sensitivity, a sensitive start to a concentration of 50 mg/mL in all extracts.
Conclusions: Aloe vera contains alkaloids, steroids/triterpenoids, anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins that act as antioxidants and antituberculosis against strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are not resistant and resistant to anti-tuberculosis drugs.