Plants: a source for new antimycobacterial drugs

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health threat, exacerbated by multidrug-resistant strains.
• Traditional medicine utilizes plant extracts for treating diseases, including TB, highlighting natural products as a valuable resource.
• Existing research has identified numerous antimycobacterial compounds, but further investigation is needed for drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and report on antimycobacterial compounds derived from natural sources.
• To identify compounds with significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• To explore the potential of these compounds as leads for new anti-TB drug discovery.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of natural products with reported antimycobacterial activity.
• Analysis of reported minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for identified compounds.
• Examination of studies detailing the mechanisms of action for selected compounds.

Main Results:

• A total of 127 antimycobacterial compounds were identified and reviewed.
• Twenty-seven of these compounds exhibited potent activity, with MICs below 10 µg/mL.
• Mechanisms of action were elucidated for some of the most active compounds.

Conclusions:

• Plant-derived natural products represent a promising source for novel anti-TB drug discovery.
• Compounds with high antimycobacterial activity (< 10 µg/mL) warrant further preclinical and clinical investigation.
• Continued exploration of natural sources is crucial for developing effective treatments against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.