Use of plants in novel approaches for control of gastrointestinal helminths in livestock with emphasis on small ruminants

Evaluation of Eucalyptus citriodora essential oil on goat gastrointestinal nematodes

“…The role of plants in extending the use and increasing the efficacy of existing anthelmintics thus warrants study (GITHIORI et al, 2006). E. citriodora essential oil presented promising results, but the efficacy did not reach the therapeutically required level.…”

Assessing the usefulness of mineral licks containing herbal extracts with anti-parasitic properties for the control of gastrointestinal helminths in grazing sheep – a field trial

“…Furthermore, in the trial conducted by Luginbuhl et al (2006), another commercially available herbal de-wormer was ineffective in reducing EPG counts in goats, and in the study by Bouilhol et al (2001) there were no apparent anti-parasitic effects of fi ve different herbal preparations on gastrointestinal helminths in grazing sheep. Contrary to the aforementioned fi eld studies, a number of in vivo and in vitro experiments have been supportive of the effi cacy of using plant extracts for the control of gastrointestinal parasites, especially the nematodes, in small ruminants (Githiori et al, 2006;Athanasiadou et al, 2007) and others reported inconsistent outcomes (Torres-Acosta & Hoste, 2008). A high dose of A. sativum extracts -one of the plants used in the preparation of mineral licks tested in the present trial -reduced the nematodes' EPGs in sheep (Masamba et al, 2010).…”

“…However, the incidents of drug-resistant populations of worms along with the emerging trend to limit the application of chemical agents, especially in organic farming, has prompted the development of alternative approaches to anti-parasitic therapies (Cabaret et al, 2002;Waller & Thamsborg, 2004;Torres-Acosta & Hoste, 2008). A broad range of ethnoveterinary therapeutic products, most of them utilizing various medicinal plants with anti-parasitic effects, are currently being evaluated (Akhtar et al, 2000;Waller et al, 2001;Githiori et al, 2006;Athanasiadou et al, 2007). However, the effectiveness of herbal formulations marketed for parasite control in small ruminants under fi eld conditions has been scarcely documented (Bouilhol et al, 2001;Luginbuhl et al, 2006;Burke et al, 2009a).…”

Avaliação da atividade anti-helmíntica de extratos brutos de plantas da Floresta Amazônica e Mata Atlântica brasileira sobre Haemonchus contortus

“…Um dos principais fatores ligados à eficiência do ciclo de vida e infecção dos nematoides de ovinos é a resistência a fármacos anti-helmínticos atualmente empregados (Echevarria e Pinheiro, 1989). Por isso o uso de produtos naturais aparece como alternativa terapêutica para o tratamento de verminoses, (Githiori et al, 2006). O emprego de plantas medicinais tem sido feito há séculos pelos agricultores para o tratamento do parasitismo e melhorar o desempenho produtivo dos animais.…”

“…No entanto, a evidência científica sobre a eficácia antiparasitária da maioria dos produtos vegetais é limitada, apesar de sua ampla utilização. A validação científica dos efeitos antiparasitários e possíveis efeitos colaterais de produtos vegetais em ruminantes é necessária antes da sua adoção como um novo método para controle de parasitas (Githiori et al, 2006). O Brasil abriga a maior biodiversidade do planeta.…”