Abstract

AN OVERVIEW ON HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS

A. Anagha*, B. Rangeela, S. Gopinath and M. Vishwa

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases, claiming millions of lives annually and straining public health systems globally. Despite the availability of effective treatments since the 1940s, TB still causes more deaths than any other infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS. The disease primarily affects the pulmonary system, spreading through the air and causing symptoms such as coughing, fever, and chest pain. Efforts to control TB are hindered by challenges such as the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, limited access to diagnostic tools, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and poor coordination between health agencies. While the WHO works with global partners to scale up responses, tools like interferon-gamma release assays remain limited in distinguishing latent infection from active disease. Additionally, the side effects of allopathic medications, includinghepatitis and hypersensitivity, have increased interest in plant-based alternatives. Medicinal plants like Dracaena angustifolia Roxb and Nigellea sativa have shown promise in TB treatment due to their anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. These plants work by disrupting mycobacterial cell walls, enhancing host immunity, and reducing inflammation, offering a potential complement to conventional therapies. Integrating plant-based treatments with modern medicine could provide more effective, accessible, and sustainable solutions to TB’s challenges. This review emphasizes the need for continued research, resource mobilization, and innovative strategies to combat TB and improve global health outcomes.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Anti-Tuberculosis, Treatment and Management of TB, Herbal Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Tuberculosis.