The War against Tuberculosis: A Review of Natural Compounds and Their Derivatives

Abstract

<jats:p>Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterial organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pose a major threat to public health, especially in middle and low-income countries. Worldwide in 2018, approximately 10 million new cases of TB were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are a limited number of medications available to treat TB; additionally, multi-drug resistant TB and extensively-drug resistant TB strains are becoming more prevalent. As a result of various factors, such as increased costs of developing new medications and adverse side effects from current medications, researchers continue to evaluate natural compounds for additional treatment options. These substances have the potential to target bacterial cell structures and may contribute to successful treatment. For example, a study reported that green and black tea, which contains epigallocatechin gallate (a phenolic antioxidant), may decrease the risk of contracting TB in experimental subjects; cumin (a seed from the parsley plant) has been demonstrated to improve the bioavailability of rifampicin, an important anti-TB medication, and propolis (a natural substance produced by honeybees) has been shown to improve the binding affinity of anti-TB medications to bacterial cell structures. In this article, we review the opportunistic pathogen M. tuberculosis, various potential therapeutic targets, available therapies, and natural compounds that may have anti-TB properties. In conclusion, different natural compounds alone as well as in combination with already approved medication regimens should continue to be investigated as treatment options for TB.</jats:p>

Impact of mTOR gene polymorphisms and gene-tea interaction on susceptibility to tuberculosis

“…Additionally, our previous study confirmed that increasing tea consumption is associated with a decreased risk of TB[ 15 ]. Moreover, some studies have demonstrated that catechin, an important antioxidant extracted from tea leaves, can protect cells from damage by inducing antioxidant enzymes, inhibiting oxidase, and scavenging free radicals[ 14 , 16 ]. EGCG, which is the most potent component in catechins, plays an important role in arresting the growth of tubercle bacillus.…”

“…Experimental and epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that there is a significantly negative association between tea drinking and TB. Tea polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), protect the immune system from various pathological processes including TB infection due to their antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects[ 14 - 16 ].…”

Genealogy of Resistant Tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean until 2020

“…From those previously treated, MDR-TB have been reported in Genealogy of Resistant Tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean until 2020 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96280 more than 20% worldwide [11]. The Global Tuberculosis Report of 2019 recognize more than 400,000 patients with drug resistance TB [1]. In 2019, before Covid-19 became the global threat that we have been seen now, MDR-TB continued to be a public health crisis with 206,030 patients reported with MDR-TB around the world, a 10% increase from numbers reported in 2018 [12].…”

“…This is known as latent tuberculosis. Differently, around 10% of exposed people develop active infection, characterized by cavitary and fibrotic lung disease [1]. Immunosuppression can cause that tuberculosis bacilli migrate from the initial lung infection to other sites, causing extra pulmonary disease, which is one of the most lethal sequelae of the infection.…”

“…In between the amaze and current focus in the catastrophic pandemic of Covid-19, we tend to forget that a year before in 2018, M. tuberculosis infected more than 10 million people, with 1.5 million people dying from the disease [1]. Despite being TB a well-known disease, it is suspected that more than one third of the cases did not receive adequate treatment due to lack of diagnosis and lack of resources [1]. Besides the direct poor outcome in the individual patient, the absence of an appropriate treatment increase the risk of developing drug resistance, facilitates alterations in the genealogy, and favors poor outcomes in morbidity and mortality.…”