Helminthiasis and medicinal plants: a review

doi:10.1016/S2222-1808(14)60648-4

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Abstract

Helminthiasis is the most common infection caused by worms that is contaminant to human body parts. Normally, the worms live in the gastrointestinal tract, liver and other organs. The currently available anthelmintic drugs, including albendazole, mebendazole, thiabendazole, niridazole, dietylcarbamazine, ivermectin, praziquantel, are widely used to control helminthiasis. But these drugs have serious drawbacks such as hepatotoxicity, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and diarrhea. Thus, it is necessary to look for more effective anthelmintic drugs with the minimum side effects. Eighty percent of the world's population relies on traditional medicines and plant extracts and the active constituents are used to meet people's primary health care needs. This review focuses on helminthiasis and the role of traditional plants in the treatment of helminthiasis.

Keywords

Anthelmintics;
Cysts;
Helminthiasis;
Medicinal plants;
Nematodes

Foundation Progect: Supported by Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded(431606), Maharashtra, India (Grant Ref. No. Acctts/Budget/2012-13/2169-2209).

Peer reviewer Prof. Ravi U. Mane, Assistant Professor, K.S.S. College of Pharmacy, Shikrapur, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra, India. Tel: +918483925816, E-mail: maneravi13@gmail.com

Comments This is a good study in which the authors have compiled the information about helminthiasis and medicinal plants with anthelmintic effect. All the information will help researchers to explore its scientific evidence in the prospect studies.

Available online 11 Aug 2014

: Corresponding author: Mahesh Bandappa Manke, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, SRTM University, Nanded-431 606, Maharashtra, India. Tel: +91 9923 092833, Fax: +91 2462 229242

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Tuesday, 12 May 2015