3^rd Edition of Infectious Diseases World Conference 2026

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the ten leading infectious causes of global morbidity and mortality. Although first-line anti-tuberculosis therapy is highly effective, these medications are commonly associated with significant adverse effects. Among them, drug-induced hepatotoxicity is the most frequent and clinically relevant complication in TB patients. This hepatic injury, typically manifested by elevated levels of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), may present with symptoms such as jaundice, nausea, and vomiting, and can ultimately interrupt or compromise the effectiveness of TB treatment.

A pilot randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Participants were allocated into two groups (n = 15 per group) using a block randomization method and received either 10 cc of Jojoba syrup or placebo syrup once daily.

Liver enzyme levels (AST and ALT) were monitored throughout the study and analyzed as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included changes in the severity of cough, anorexia, and nausea, as well as improvements in quality of life. By the end of the intervention period, a clear difference emerged between groups.

In the placebo group, 27.3% of participants developed drug-induced hepatotoxicity, evidenced by clinically relevant elevations in AST and ALT. In contrast, no cases of hepatotoxicity were observed in the Jojoba syrup group, indicating a marked protective effect of the herbal formulation. In addition to preventing biochemical liver injury, participants receiving Jojoba syrup demonstrated a tendency toward reduced gastrointestinal symptoms and slightly improved quality-of-life scores compared with placebo. The difference in hepatotoxicity incidence between the two groups reached statistical significance (p = 0.037), supporting the potential role of Jojoba syrup as a hepatoprotective adjunct during anti-tuberculosis therapy.