Plant-based natural compounds as novel therapeutic avenues against tuberculosis: Emphasis on curcumin

Serious infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms often lead to complications that range from minor to severe. Bacterial Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis, poses a major threat to public health, especially in middle and low-income countries. Current medications and therapies for TB are gradually proving to be ineffective due to the rise in drug-resistant strains, adverse side effects, poor drug penetration and lack of new drug development. As a result, there is an urgent need for new anti-tubercular compounds, which can address these issues. Exploring natural sources has become an increasingly popular avenue for discovering novel TB treatments, as these sources are widely available and have demonstrated therapeutic potential. Some plant based natural products also offer key structural frameworks that can be used as starting points for developing new anti-tubercular drugs. This study is done to review and screen various natural compounds from plant origin for anti-tubercular activity and focuses on Curcumin due to its multi-target mechanism of action, potent anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects, and its future potential has been addressed.