DOTTs-Database of Therapeutic Plants against Tuberculosis: Rationalizing traditional medicine for therapeutic applications

Abstract

Introduction

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a highly resistant superbug causing tuberculosis disease (TB), contributes to one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Improved drug regimens and therapeutics have been extensively studied, but still none are proven to be fully effective in eliminating the pathogen or its drug-resistant forms. Therefore, alternative and novel therapeutic approaches to address this problem are needed. Traditional medicine can be vital in managing TB via codified (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani) and uncodified systems (folk medicine). In recent years, the utilization of medicinal plants for TB therapy has garnered considerable attention. Identifying underexplored plants utilized as a remedy for TB can aid in developing future treatment strategies. The current study aims to assemble the ethnobotanical literature that provides insight into the undocumented tribal/folk medicinal practices against tuberculosis in one unified platform.

Methods

The medicinal plants with therapeutic properties against tuberculosis were identified manually by screening published literature. The data is represented to the users using a user-friendly web interface developed via the PHP-HTML platform using Bootstrap Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) theme, and the database is managed by MySQL Database Management System (DBMS).

Results

Database of Therapeutic Plants against Tuberculosis (DOTTs) describes the medicinal plants used traditionally in different forms against tuberculosis by various indigenous tribes and communities in India. A total of 100 plants with their local names, taxonomical classification (order and family), tribe, plant part, and formulations, as well as the anti-tubercular attributes, are provided in the database. Additional information about the plants can be retrieved from the external links provided.

Conclusion

The DOTTs database provides the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological data of 100 Indian medicinal plants. This database will help the researchers acquire information about the plants that could be beneficial for further evaluation and discovery of potential leads in TB drug discovery. With proper investigation and advancement, it is anticipated that TB could no longer be a serious public health risk.