Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Article
- Comments (0)
Herbal Ray of Hope for TB Patients
ARNOLD CHRISTIE | Ahmedabad, February 8, 2012 15:28
Tags : tb | curable diseases | tuberculosis | herbal treatment | |
Tags : tb | curable diseases | tuberculosis | herbal treatment | |
Patients suffering from Totally Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TDR-TB) can now for hope for the best as the Gujarat based Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) has found that a herbal plant Salicrornia Brachiata contains elements that are resistant to TB.
The scientists, after 13 years of thorough research, at CSMCRI in Bhavnagar have revealed that the plant consists of anti-TB contents which would prove effective in fighting TDR-TB.
According to reports, Salicrornia Brachiata plants are found in abundance along the Gujarat coast especially in Saurastra coastal region. The same plant is also credited for delivering world’s first vegetable salt.
During the research, the scientists prepared aqueous extracts from the plant which was effective against sensitive micro bacterium tuberculosis strains. The tests, conducted at Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow were found non toxic and positive.
Speaking to TSI, CSMCRI director, Dr P K Ghosh said, “It (herbal drug) can be introduced as an alternative herbal formulation along with allopathic medicines to treat TB. We are putting rigorous efforts and hoping for new drug which will be effective in TB cure.”
Since 2007, Totally Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TDR-TB) is haunting Mumbai.
The state run J J hospital’s chest department head Dr. N N Ramraje says his first patient to be labeled TDR-TB came in 2007.
The patient was 18-year-old youth who came to the hospital after a relapse of TB.
TDR-TB made it to the headlines after Dr Zarir Udwadia of Hinduja Hospital in Mahim published a report in Clinical Infectious Diseases about finding the organism in 12 patients.
His report has since generated a lot of interest as well as criticism. Some Maharashtra Government officials have claimed that TDR-TB cannot be detected in any local laboratory. But the new findings from J J Hospital, which inaugurated its state-of the-art TB testing lab last year, proved TDR-TB's existence beyond doubt.
Moreover, World Health organisation (WHO) has also declared that India has maximum number of TB patients in the world. But now it seems that there is a ray of hope for millions suffering from TB.
Issue Dated: Feb 5, 2017
