Comprehensive Review of Phytotherapeutic Methods for Treating tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) incidence is rising globally, driven by drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.
• Existing first-line and second-line TB drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance.
• Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) and extensively-Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB necessitate novel therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current synthetic drugs for TB treatment.
• To highlight the potential of medicinal plants and their phytochemicals in combating TB.
• To explore alternative sources for novel anti-TB drug development.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current synthetic TB drugs.
• Survey of research on medicinal plants with anti-tubercular activity.
• Analysis of phytochemical constituents with antimicrobial properties.

Main Results:

• Medicinal plants contain secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids.
• These phytochemicals exhibit antimicrobial properties effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Identified phytochemicals show potential for treating MDR and XDR TB strains.

Conclusions:

• Medicinal plants are a valuable source for discovering new anti-TB agents.
• Phytochemicals from these plants offer a promising strategy against drug-resistant TB.
• Further research into plant-derived compounds is crucial for developing novel TB therapies.