Digital illustration symbolizing medicinal plants battling tuberculosis

Nature's Fight Against TB: Can These Plants Help Win the Battle?

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how traditional remedies like Costus speciosus and Cymbopogon citratus are showing promise in combating tuberculosis, offering new hope in the fight against this global health crisis."

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the world's most pressing health challenges. Despite significant efforts to combat the disease, TB continues to affect millions, with drug-resistant strains posing a particularly dire threat. The urgent need for new, effective, and affordable treatments has led researchers to explore unconventional avenues, including the potential of traditional medicinal plants.

For centuries, various cultures have turned to herbal remedies to treat a multitude of ailments, including respiratory conditions associated with TB. Plants like Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria, traditionally used to alleviate cough and other TB symptoms, have come under scientific scrutiny. These plants, commonly found in tropical regions, are now being investigated for their potential antituberculosis properties.

Recent research has delved into the in vitro antituberculosis activity of these plants, seeking to identify the specific phytochemical compounds responsible for their therapeutic effects. By examining different solvent partitions of these plants, scientists aim to unlock nature's secrets and pave the way for novel treatments that could revolutionize TB care.

Unlocking the Antituberculosis Potential of Medicinal Plants

Digital illustration symbolizing medicinal plants battling tuberculosis

A groundbreaking study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine explored the antituberculosis activity, phytochemical composition, and effects on growth kinetics and cellular integrity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv when treated with Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria. The study aimed to scientifically validate the traditional use of these plants as remedies for TB symptoms.

Researchers employed a tetrazolium colorimetric microdilution assay to assess the in vitro anti-TB activity of different solvent partitions derived from the plants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the phytochemical compounds present in the most active partitions. The effects of these partitions on mycobacterial growth kinetics were evaluated over a seven-day period in a batch culture system, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe their impact on mycobacterial cellular integrity.

Costus speciosus: Commonly known as crepe ginger, this ornamental herb belongs to the family Costaceae and has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties.
Cymbopogon citratus: Also known as lemongrass, this famous culinary herb is a member of the family Gramineae and is widely used in cooking and traditional medicine.
Tabernaemontana coronaria: Also known as crepe jasmine, this plant belongs to the family Apocynaceae and has been used traditionally to treat various respiratory ailments.

The study revealed that the n-hexane partitions of Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria exhibited the highest anti-TB activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 100 to 200 µg/mL. GC-MS phytochemical analysis identified that the majority of the compounds in these active partitions belonged to lipophilic fatty acid groups. Furthermore, the active partitions of Costus speciosus and Tabernaemontana coronaria demonstrated high cidal activity, killing more than 99% of the cell population. SEM observations revealed multiple structural changes in the mycobacteria, indicating massive cellular damage.

Implications for Future TB Treatments

The study's findings suggest that the n-hexane partitions of Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria hold promising in vitro anti-TB activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The destructive effects on the integrity of the mycobacterial cellular structure further support their potential as therapeutic agents. Further research is needed to isolate and identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-TB activity and to evaluate their efficacy in in vivo models. These findings could pave the way for the development of novel, affordable, and accessible treatments for TB, particularly in resource-limited settings where traditional medicine plays a crucial role.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s12906-017-2077-5, Alternate LINK

Title: 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

Subject: Complementary and alternative medicine

Journal: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Suriyati Mohamad, Nur Najihah Ismail, Thaigarajan Parumasivam, Pazilah Ibrahim, Hasnah Osman, Habibah A. Wahab

Published: 2018-01-08

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary cause of tuberculosis, and why is it a significant global health concern?

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It remains a major global health challenge because it affects millions of people worldwide. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis further exacerbates the problem, making treatment more difficult and highlighting the urgent need for new and effective therapies.

Which specific plants were studied for their potential in combating tuberculosis, and what are their common names?

The plants studied were Costus speciosus (crepe ginger), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), and Tabernaemontana coronaria (crepe jasmine). These plants have been traditionally used in various cultures to treat symptoms associated with TB. Researchers are now investigating these plants for their potential antituberculosis properties, hoping to scientifically validate their traditional use.

How did researchers assess the antituberculosis activity of Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria in the study?

Researchers used a tetrazolium colorimetric microdilution assay to assess the in vitro anti-TB activity of different solvent partitions derived from Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria. They also employed Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the phytochemical compounds present in the most active partitions. The effects of these partitions on the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were evaluated over a seven-day period, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe their impact on mycobacterial cellular integrity.

What were the key findings regarding the anti-TB activity of the plants, and which compounds were identified as being significant?

The n-hexane partitions of Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria exhibited the highest anti-TB activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 100 to 200 µg/mL. GC-MS analysis identified that the majority of compounds in the active partitions belonged to lipophilic fatty acid groups. The active partitions of Costus speciosus and Tabernaemontana coronaria demonstrated high cidal activity, killing more than 99% of the cell population. SEM observations revealed multiple structural changes in the mycobacteria, indicating massive cellular damage.

What are the potential implications of these findings for the future of tuberculosis treatment, and what steps are needed next?

The study's findings suggest that the n-hexane partitions of Costus speciosus, Cymbopogon citratus, and Tabernaemontana coronaria hold promise as therapeutic agents for TB. Further research is needed to isolate and identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the anti-TB activity. The next steps involve evaluating the efficacy of these compounds in in vivo models. These findings could lead to novel, affordable, and accessible treatments for TB, especially in resource-limited settings where traditional medicine is widely used.