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Review
. 2022 Sep 11:44:e004722.
doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm004722. eCollection 2022.

Antiparasitic treatment using herbs and spices: A review of the literature of the phytotherapy

Affiliations
Review

Antiparasitic treatment using herbs and spices: A review of the literature of the phytotherapy

Adriane Leites Strothmann et al. Braz J Vet Med. .

Abstract

This study sought to make a literature review of the medicinal plants Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare L., Thymus vulgaris L., Cuminum cynimum L., and Rosmarinus officinalis L. with antiparasitic potential. Articles and theses were selected from the LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, which comprised the period from 2000 to 2021 (22 years). In all, 49 studies were selected, and the majority were with the plant Origanum vulgare L. (oregano), followed by Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme). Twenty-five genera of parasites were detected, which were described being tested with phytotherapic. The nematode Haemonchus spp. was the most evaluated in these studies, followed by the parasite genera Leishmania, Trichostrongylus, and Toxocara. All plants showed antiparasitic effects, with more or less action, therefore with the potential to continue research in the search for biomolecules to control these parasites.

O presente trabalho faz uma revisão bibliográfica das plantas medicinais Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare L., Thymus vulgaris L., Cuminum cynimum L. e Rosmarinus officinalis L. com potencial antiparasitário. Foram selecionados artigos e teses nos bancos de dados LILACS, PubMed e Google Acadêmico que compreendiam o período de publicação de 2000 a 2021 (22 anos). Ao todo, foram selecionados 49 estudos, sendo que na maioria constava a planta Origanum vulgare L. (orégano), seguido de Thymus vulgaris L. (tomilho). Foram detectados 25 gêneros de parasitos, os quais foram descritos sendo testados frente a algum fitoterápico. O nematoda Haemonchus spp. foi o mais avaliado nestes estudos, seguido dos gêneros dos parasitos Leishmania, Trichostrongylus e Toxocara. Todas as plantas apresentaram efeitos antiparasitários, com maior ou menos ação, portanto com potencial para dar continuidade aos estudos em buscas de biomoléculas para controle destes parasitos.

Keywords: alternative control; endoparasites; phytotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: ALS, MEAB, GAC, MQM, WDST, CMC and NBP – No conflict of interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of studies using Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, and Cuminum cyminum from 2000 to 2021 for parasite control.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Genera of endoparasites most frequently found in in vitro and/or in vitro studies in the LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases from 2000 to 2021.

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