The Ghanaian Flora as a Potential Source of Anthelmintic and Anti-Schistosomal Agents

Abstract

Parasitic infections including schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis are the most commonly encountered Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the world. These diseases remain a major public health concern affecting millions of people especially those living in poor regions where access to effective conventional health care is a challenge. Interventions to control these infections in endemic areas have not been successful due to the high cost of drugs, limited availability as well as inequity of access to preventive chemotherapies. Another problem is the development resistance to the limited number of recommended medications due to their intensive use in both human and live-stock. There is an increasing awareness of the potential of natural products as chemotherapeutic agents to combat parasitic infections. Natural products may offer an unlimited source of chemically diverse drug molecules which may be safe, efficient, less toxic, less expensive and readily available for use especially in low-income countries. The Ghanaian flora provides such a ready source for new therapeutic interventions for the local population. Several researches have provided evidence of the anti-parasitic activity of Ghanaian medicinal plants. This chapter provides a review with special focus on medicinal plants collected from Ghana with anthelmintic and anti-schistosomal activity. Evidence of pharmacological activities of crude extracts, fractions and bioactive phytoconstituents as well as possible mechanisms of action where investigated are discussed.

<i>Amphimas pterocarpoides</i> Harms: An Evaluation of Flavonoid and Phenolic Contents, Wound Healing, Anthelmintic and Antioxidant Activities of the Leaves and Stem Bark

“…Interestingly, APL (6.25 mg/mL) caused death of worms at the 93 rd minute better than albendazole (10 mg/mL) which caused death at 117 th minute. The anthelmintic effect of medicinal plants has been attributed to constituents such as terpenoids, alkaloids and polyphenols particularly tannins [43,44]. Tannins, have been shown to possess significant anthelmintic activity against a wide range of nematodes through interactions with proline-rich proteins on the worm cuticle or gastrointestinal tract interfering with worm motility, feeding and absorption of nutrients in the intestines [45].…”

Anthelmintic Agents from African Medicinal Plants: Review and Prospects

“…Te in vitro test models involve parasitic nematodes such as Haemonchus contortus, Ancylostoma caninum, Ascaris suum, Heligmosomoides bakeri, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Trichostrongylus axei, Strongyloides papillosus, Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum columbianum, and Oesophagostomum venulosum [95][96][97]. Nonparasitic earthworms, including Pheretima posthuma, Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia fetida, and Eudrilus eugeniae, have also been used as in vitro models for studying the anthelmintic efects of many extracts [98][99][100][101][102][103], cited in [104]. Te freeliving nematode, C. elegans, continues to remain the most widely used non-parasitic test model for in vitro anthelmintic studies [105][106][107][108][109][110].…”

In silico molecular docking and dynamic simulation of antimalarial compounds from Barleria buxifolia root against type III phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase β: Metabolite Profile Analysis Using LC-MS/HRMS

“…These newly isolated anthraquinones may show promising potential therapeutic e cacy in various biological activities [16]. A total of 4 Acanthaceae family plants were reported for antimalarial activity, i.e., Andrographis paniculata, Justicia adhatoda, Justicia ava, and Acanthus polystachyus [17][18][19][20]. Nonetheless, as far as we are aware, no research on the antimalarial properties of this plant material has been published.…”