Abstract

IN VITRO EFFECT OF DIACETYL ON MULTIDRUG RESISTANT IRAQI MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS STRAINS

Zahra M. Al-Khafaji *, Khalida K. Al-Kareemi, Aaisha B. Mahmood

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis stills one of the big health problem worldwide , the problem aggravated by development of multidrug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant (XDR-TB) , which have been recorded in Iraq . Diacetyl is an aroma and flavor compound of Dairy products , has a potent antimicrobial activity . It has been used at concentrations (4,5,6,7,8,9,10,15,20,25 μ/ml) in L J solid medium and in BACTEC MGIT 960 (AST) system as a liquid phase medium . It exhibited high antimycobacterial activity. It diminished the growth of 9 isolates which were resistant to four antimycobacterial first line drugs used in Iraq (Rifampicin , Isoniazid, ethambutol and Streptomycin) . Some resistant strains withstand the lower concentration of diacetyl (4, 5, 6 μ/ml ), but were unable to grow at higher concentrations . Diacetyl seems to be a promising alternative medicine to knockout tuberculosis, if passes the regular rules of drug approval, it might need special drug formulation and special application .

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Diacetyl , alternative medicine , MDR-TB , XDRTB , Iraq .