ANTI TUBERCULOSIS POTENTIAL OF SIDDHA HERBS - A REVIEW

Giftillda Selva Elsee T.*, Poonkuzhali S., Helen Sathiya X. and Velpandian V.

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is a granulomatous infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis must gain entry into the body to produce tuberculosis commonly, the infection occurs by inhalation of droplets containing tubercle bacilli. The common site of lodgement is lower border of upper lobe or upper border of lower lobe because of adequate ventilation. Incubation period is about 4 – 8 weeks. The emergence of multi drug resistance strains of MTB and more recently extensively drug resistance TB poses a formidable challenge to the control of the disease there is a need to develop new drugs for the control of TB , particularly towards the multi-drug resistance and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis strains. The antituberculosis activity of plants was proven by various examples, in the form of both essential oils and extracts. Various phytochemicals like alkaloids, xanthones, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes, quinones etc. were involved in anti-tubercular activity. In this review ten potential anti-tuberculosis herbs which includes Piper longum, Allium cepa, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera, Allium sativum, Pueraria tuberosa, Ocimum basilicum, Psorelia corylifolia, Alpinia galangal, Justicia adhatoda are discussed. This article provides a systematic review examined the effects of Siddha treatment for tuberculosis (TB), most potent herbal formulations and active substances present in plants and their medicinal applications in a scientific way.

Keywords: Anti tuberculosis activity, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Siddha, Herbal formulations, Lungs.