A review on use of medicinal plants to control parasites

268-277Medicinal plants have been identified and used traditionally throughout the world from the beginning of the human civilization. Several plants with various properties of healing have been mentioned earlier in the oldest Indian mythology Rig-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Veda and Athar-veda, thus the history of use of medicinal plants in India dates back to 3500-1800 B.C. These medicinal plants contain active principles which are highly potent against parasites. Parasite causes a quantum of health hazard and economic losses to both human and animals. Therefore, medicinal plants are still a concern of research for their anthelmintic activity and other beneficial effects, because of increasing contraindications in the application of synthetic medicines. The use of crude medicinal plants assures health promising effect to mankind and animals due to anthelmintic efficacy without any side effects. The present review gives an introduction to some medicinal plants, method of extraction and emphasized more towards its application against specific parasites

Evaluation of Diagnostic Potential of Echinococcus granulosus Recombinant EgAgB8/1, EgAgB8/2 and EPC1 Antigens for Cystic Echinococcosis in Goats

Echinococcus granulosus recombinant proteins including two antigen B sub-units EgAgB8/1 and EgAgB8/2 and Echinococcus protoscolex calcium binding protein (EPC1) were expressed in prokaryotic expression vectors. The diagnostic potential of these three recombinant proteins was evaluated in the detection of cystic echinococcosis in goats in IgG-ELISA. The EgAgB8/1 and EgAgB8/2 recombinant proteins reacted fairly with the hydatid infected goats with sensitivity of 66.7% and 80.0% and specificity of 71.3% and 73.3%, respectively while EPC1 recombinant protein showed lower sensitivity (60%) but comparable specificity (72.3%). Cross-reactivity of these three antigens with goat gastro-intestinal strongyle nematodes and Taenia hydatigena under field conditions was studied. Results showed that EgAgB8/1, EgAgB8/2 and EPC1 antigens cross-reacted with most of the parasites in the goat host