Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Current Status from Mexican Medicinal Plants as Source of Antimycobacterial and Antituberculosis Compounds

Tuberculosis (TB) is a worldwide health problem, being among the 10 causes of death by a single infectious agent. This infection
mainly impacts the economically active population, and it is aggravated by the presence of MDR and XDR strains. This scenario makes
the research for new alternatives of treatment imperative. Medicinal plants have proved to be a source of useful pharmaceutical molecules
for lots of diseases, including TB. This manuscript is a review of the publications made from 2014 to date, focused on describing the
antimycobacterial activity of extracts and pure compounds obtained from Mexican medicinal plants and their in vitro and in vivo activity
against different strains of mycobacteria.
      The most active extracts against M. tuberculosis H37Rv were CH2Cl2, EtOAc and EtOH from Bidens odorata, and the EtOAc extract
from Musa spp. The Hex extract from Trixis angustifolia (MIC=12.5 μg/mL) and the Hex and EtOAc extracts of Musa spp were active
against M. tuberculosis MDR (CIBIN 99) with MIC=12.5 and 6.25 μg/mL, respectively. From the EtOH extract of B. odorata, an active
glycoside against M. tuberculosis H37Rv (MIC=3.125 μg/mL) was isolated. Fractions 4 and 5 of T. angustifolia showed a MIC=12.5 and
6.25 μg/mL against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and against M. tuberculosis R-INH and the INS-4 clinical isolate. To date, in vivo evaluation
with the pulmonary TB model in BALB/c mice of silymarin has been only reported. The compound reduced the bacillary load and lung
pneumonia percentage. Extracts and/or pure bioactive compounds might improve and/or reduce the complex treatment scheme against
TB. Therefore, it is important that this type of research be carried out given the problem that TB represents.

Keywords