From natural medicines to metal weapons: therapeutic potential of flavonoid metabolites in regulating host-Mycobacterium tuberculosis metal interactions

Abstract

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease, causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Within the host immune system, transition metals play vital roles in combating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), acting as catalytic cofactors, mediating electron transport, and catalyzing antimicrobial radical formation. Both the host and MTB have developed mechanisms to maintain metal homeostasis. Flavonoids, important herbal materials with potent iron-chelating ability, have gained attention for their antitubercular and anti-inflammatory effects, making them a promising treatment option. This review explores how trace metals restrict MTB and the dynamic balance between pathogen and host, revealing innovative perspectives for therapeutic interventions.

Keywords

Mycobacterium tuberculosis / flavonoid / metal ions homeostasis / zinc oxide nanoparticles

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Fundings

This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Credit authorship contribution statement

Tianyi Zhao: Writing - original draft, Writing review & editing, Visualization, Investigation, Conceptualization. Qingxuan Wu: Writing - review & editing. Yihao Fan: Writing - review & editing. Ru Li: Writing - review & editing. Zifei Yang: Writing review & editing. Wenxin Li: Writing - review & editing. Xiaoyun Zhao: Writing - review & editing, Investigation, Supervision, Conceptualization.

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