Medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents: A review of bioactivity against Schistosoma mansoni

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease that affects approximately 200 million people worldwide. In order to reduce the parasite prevalence, further researches aiming new treatment methods is necessary. Once infected by Shistossoma mansoni, one can have no symptoms in the acute phase, however, chronic phase is characterized by marked egg-induced hepatic granulomatous inflammation. To prevent the disease, the main prophylactic method is environmental sanitation which decreases the entrance of eggs into water bodies. In addition to fighting the snail, treatment of population is important. Currently, for treatment of schistosomisasis, the most used drugs are Praziquantel (PZQ) and Oxamniquine, whereas PZQ is the drug of choice. Each drug has a specific mechanism of action aimed at the elimination of the parasite. However, any parasite treatment based on the use of a single drug poses serious concerns regarding the onset of resistance. The search for new therapeutic agents derived from medicinal plants for schistosomiasis has progressed significantly in the last decade. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated survey on medicinal plants that have significant therapeutic effects in animal models of schistosomiasis. A considerable number of herbal constituents with schistosomicidal effect have been well characterized and may be good candidates for prospective studies and investigations that may result in clinical usage.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Menthol and Menthone in Schistosoma mansoni Infection

“…Complexity, chemical diversity, and biological properties of natural products have led to research and discoveries of new drugs. In Brazil, 100,000 species of plants have been cataloged, but only 8% of them have known chemical components and only 1100 species have been studied for therapeutic use (Castro et al, 2013 ). Pharmaco-ethnobotany has become a very attractive and with great potential area of research, for new compounds that can be used on infectious diseases treatment.…”

Immune Response and Antischistosomal Effect of the Thymoquinone Bioactive Compound from Nigella Sativa Loaded with Chitosan Nanoparticles

“…PZQ is one of the most important medicines used to treat schistosomiasis (Doenhoff et al, 2008). With reference to the potential of drugresistant parasites to emerge, especially with retreatment regimes in endemic areas, the search for a new schistosomal drug is essential (Castro et al, 2013). In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the usage of herbal remedies to enhance health.…”

In Vitro Assessment of the Cercaricidal Activity of Sida acuta Burm. F. and Sida rhombifolia Linn. (Malvaceae) Hydroethanolic Extracts, Cytotoxicity, and Phytochemical Studies

“…After an infected person releases Schistosoma eggs into the water by defecation or urination, the ripe miracidia hatch out and invade the intermediate host freshwater snail where they form sporocysts. They then matured to give cercariae that emerges from snails and swims to penetrate the skin of humans and/or animals that are definitive hosts [ 2 ]. Therefore, to control schistosomiasis, the life cycle of the parasite can be interrupted by killing cercariae and miracidia [ 3 – 5 ].…”