Researchers find three herbal plants work better than antibiotics for treating tuberculosis

Researchers analyzed three well-known natural remedies for tuberculosis (TB) to scientifically validate their usefulness in treating the condition. Extracts from the crepe jasmine (Tabernaemontana coronaria), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), and the crepe ginger (Costus speciosus) were evaluated for their in vitro anti-TB activity at different solvent partitions to identify their most active phytochemical compounds. The results of the study were published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• All three plant materials were tested against a tuberculosis strain using a tetrazolium colorimetric microdilution assay.
• The most active partition of each plant was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
• Scientists observed how each plant extract influenced the growth kinetics of the mycobacteria over a seven-day period.
• These effects on cellular integrity were observed under a scanning electron microscope.
• All three extracts were proven effective against tuberculosis, especially at concentrations of around 100 to 200 μg/mL.
• In terms of cidal activity in relation to time, the crepe jasmine and the crepe ginger were shown to be the most efficacious.

The authors of this new study concluded that traditional ethnomedicine holds promise in naturally treating common diseases, including tuberculosis.

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Journal Reference:

Mohamad, S., Ismail, N., Parumasivan, T., and Ibrahim, P. ANTITUBERCULOSIS ACTIVITY, PHYTOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF COSTUS SPECIOSUS (J. KOENIG) SM., CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS (DC. EX NEES) STAPF., AND TABERNAEMONTANA CORONARIA (L.) WILLD. AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE GROWTH KINETICS AND CELLULAR INTEGRITY OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS H37RV; BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018; 18:5, DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-2077-5