Advances in Research on the Anti‐Tuberculosis Effects of Active Components in Chinese Herbal Medicine

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical global health challenge, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Traditional therapeutic regimens have largely remained unchanged for decades, but their effectiveness has decreased due to the emergence of drug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. This rise in drug resistance complicates disease management and facilitates further transmission, highlighting the urgent need for novel and effective therapeutic agents. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have shown promise in TB treatment by enhancing host immunity, inhibiting drug‐resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , and reducing inflammation. However, there is currently no comprehensive and systematic review detailing the specific active ingredients of these herbal medicines and their mechanisms against TB. This paper focuses on four medicinal herbs, Astragalus membranaceus , Forsythia suspensa , Hedyotis diffusa , and Ganoderma lucidum , which contain bioactive compounds with significant anti‐TB properties. We systematically analyze current research to elucidate how these active substances inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth and modulate host immune responses. The review aims to provide insights that could inform the development of herbal‐based anti‐TB therapies and proposes future research directions to enhance the rational design and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in TB treatment.