Selected Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment and Management of Tuberculosis and Related Symptoms in South Africa

Background/Objectives: Medicinal plants are used around the globe to treat and/or manage various medical conditions, including respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, which affect the lower respiratory tract, with its related symptoms being treated and/or managed using medicinal plants. This review collates the available literature pertaining to the medicinal uses and phytochemistry of Carpobrotus edulis, Drosera capensis, Pelargonium reniforme, and Tulbaghia violacea used for the treatment and management of tuberculosis in South Africa. The abovementioned plants were selected based on their long history of use, anecdotal evidence, and the scientific data available. Methods: Data to compile this review article were sourced and analyzed from Google Scholar, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and textbooks published from 2000 to 2022. The search terms included the plant and genus names of each species, tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results: The data obtained indicate that the plants do not only have an effect on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also on other conditions, including cough, colds, eczema, infections, and asthma, which are differential diagnoses in suspected tuberculosis cases. The literature indicates that extracts from the four plants under review have antimicrobial activity, with MICs ranging between 0.20 and 50.00 mg/mL. The major classes of phytochemicals identified from the four medicinal plants included flavonoids, naphthoquinone, terpenoids, and sulfur-containing compounds. Conclusions: The literature review on the plants reveals that they are also used to treat other lower-respiratory ailments, including cough and fever, which may be signs and symptoms of TB. The literature review reveals that medicinal plants contain valuable phytochemicals which may be strong drug leads to combat the tuberculosis epidemic.