The use of phytotherapy in diseases caused by parasitic protozoa

Acta Parasitol. 2014 Mar;60(1):1-8. doi: 10.1515/ap-2015-0001.

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of the use of natural therapeutic agents in combating parasitic diseases. Nowadays there is increasing demand for proven plant therapies, which often are found to be more effective than synthetic pharmaceuticals in chronic diseases. In many cases herbal preparations perfectly supplement the conventional treatment and at the same time do not cause side effects. On the pharmaceutical market there are many drugs of plant origin which have been applied in the treatment of parasitic diseases. However, researchers are still looking for new plants, or specific substances isolated from them, which can be used in therapy. In this paper, drugs of plant origin used in the treatment of amoebiasis, giardiasis, malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and acanthamoebiasis are described.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiprotozoal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Protozoan Infections / therapy*

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents