India launches global-first Ayurveda tuberculosis clinical study

On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, India has announced the world’s first large-scale clinical study to scientifically evaluate Ayurveda as an adjunct to standard anti-tuberculosis treatment. The initiative, unveiled by government authorities, represents a significant step towards integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern biomedical science in the fight against tuberculosis.

The collaborative project, led by the Department of Biotechnology and the Ministry of Ayush, will enrol 1,250 newly diagnosed patients across eight institutions. Researchers will assess the impact of Ayurveda alongside standard therapy, focusing on indicators such as body weight, nutritional status, disease progression, and quality of life, as well as safety and tolerability.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh highlighted that the initiative reflects a "whole-of-science" and "whole-of-government" approach, bringing together biotechnology and traditional medicine through inter-ministerial cooperation, according to IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to Debasisa Mohanty, Director of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-National Institute of Immunology, the research will investigate tuberculosis-associated cachexia as an immunometabolic condition. Using advanced technologies including dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), immune profiling, metabolomics, and single-cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, scientists aim to better understand changes in body composition, immune response, and energy metabolism and how integrative interventions may enhance recovery and long-term outcomes.

India has recorded notable progress, with incidence declining by 21 per cent over the past decade. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister Singh reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eliminating tuberculosis through innovation and collective action. Efforts under the national programme include strengthened early diagnosis, universal drug susceptibility testing, digital adherence tools, and patient-centred care, alongside major research initiatives that continue to inform global health policy frameworks.