Tuberculosis is a world-wide menace putting mankind under huge financial burden and life threat. Attempts have been made to eradicate mycobacterium tuberculosis infection but without much success due to the emergence of resistance to various anti tubercular drugs either as MDR, XDR or TDR. Current first line, second line and even newer drugs targets only the causative organisms and thereby leave behind the chances of drug resistance and disease reactivation or reinfection, even after the treatment. Agents which target and enhance the host immunity, are devoid of limitations of conventional anti tubercular drugs. Curcumin targets the host immunity, hence becomes a preferred adjunct to the conventional anti tubercular drugs. It lacks the serious adverse drug reactions of the anti tubercular drugs. The various mechanisms for its anti tubercular actions are the enhancement of apoptosis and autophagy of macrophages, harbouring tubercular bacilli, blocking of human Kv 1.3 potassium channels, expression of anti microbial peptide cathelicidin, inhibition of mycobacterial enzyme pantothenate synthetase, activation of PPAR γ. Anti inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of curcumin contribute to its anti tubercular potential. Curcumin and it’s analogues have proved their merit as an adjunct anti tubercular agent. Their use can be encouraged and regularized in the treatment of tuberculosis by conducting extensive clinical studies.
