Ascariasis in the Tropics: (With Considerations on Its Treatment)

Developing novel anthelmintics from plant cysteine proteinases

“…Their extracts were shown to be highly effective in clearing the most obstinate of human intestinal worms, Trichuris trichiura , in the 1920s [ 41 ] and more effectively than any of the current synthetic drugs [ 42 ]. Indeed, European doctors used papain and papaya latex for the treatment of worms in the 19th century [[ 43 , 44 ] and see later in this review] but, it was not until the 1930s that they were shown to be actually capable of digesting nematodes [ 40 ] and their enzymic basis was discovered [ 45 ]. The active principles are now known to be cysteine proteinases (CP) that occur naturally in various parts of the plant, and Table 1 summarises some of those known to be contained within plants.…”

“…Jonxis & Bekins [ 43 ], in Holland, used a preparation called Velardon, also based on papain, to treat children less than 8 years old for Ascaris infections. Stransky & Reyes [ 44 ], working in the Philippines, assessed Vermizyn, treating subjects with three doses at about one and a half hour intervals, each with a teaspoon of Vermizyn. They reported very high efficacy reflected in reduced faecal egg counts after treatment and expulsion of adult Ascaris from treated subjects.…”

Developing a rapid throughput screen for detection of nematicidal activity of plant cysteine proteinases: the role ofCaenorhabditis eleganscystatins

“…Although currently the main line of treatment and control of GI nematode infections relies heavily on the use of modern synthetic anthelmintics, for centuries in the past medicinal fruits and plants have been used by indigenous peoples worldwide to treat these infections (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1929; Jonxis and Bekius, 1953; Stransky and Reyes, 1955; Behnke et al 2008; Keiser and Utzinger, 2008). When fully explored and analysed, plant products could broaden the repertoire of existing anthelmintics, at a time when resistance to conventional synthetic anthelmintics has become widespread (Prichard, 1990; Geerts and Gryseels, 2000; Wolstenholme et al 2004; Behnke et al 2008).…”

Herbal Drugs Used for Domestic Animals

“…Their extracts were shown to be highly effective in clearing the most obstinate of human intestinal worms, Trichuris trichiura, in the 1920s (Caldwell and Caldwell 1929) and more effectively than any of the current synthetic drugs (Keiser and Utzinger 2008). Indeed, European doctors used papain and papaya latex for the treatment of worms in the 19th century (Jonxis andBekins 1953, Stransky andReyes 1955) but, it was not until the 1930s that they were shown to be actually capable of digesting nematodes (Robbins 1930) and their enzymic basis was discovered (Walti 1938). The active principles are now known to be cysteines proteinases (CP) that occur naturally in various parts of the plant.…”