Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites
This review summarizes human infections caused by endoparasites, including protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes, which affect more than 30% of the human population, and medicinal plants of potential use in their treatment. Because vaccinations do not work in most instances and the parasites...
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Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2012-10-01
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Series: | Molecules |
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/11/12771 |
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author | Michael Wink |
author_facet | Michael Wink |
author_sort | Michael Wink |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This review summarizes human infections caused by endoparasites, including protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes, which affect more than 30% of the human population, and medicinal plants of potential use in their treatment. Because vaccinations do not work in most instances and the parasites have sometimes become resistant to the available synthetic therapeutics, it is important to search for alternative sources of anti-parasitic drugs. Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites with interesting biological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-parasitic and anti-microbial properties. These drugs often interfere with central targets in parasites, such as DNA (intercalation, alkylation), membrane integrity, microtubules and neuronal signal transduction. Plant extracts and isolated secondary metabolites which can inhibit protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Trichomonas and intestinal worms are discussed. The identified plants and compounds offer a chance to develop new drugs against parasitic diseases. Most of them need to be tested in more detail, especially in animal models and if successful, in clinical trials. |
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id | doaj.art-cdb8d9b934ca4f2594caa4c164f47ad4 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1420-3049 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-24T03:54:21Z |
publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Molecules |
spelling | doaj.art-cdb8d9b934ca4f2594caa4c164f47ad42022-12-21T17:16:30ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492012-10-011711127711279110.3390/molecules171112771Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary MetabolitesMichael WinkThis review summarizes human infections caused by endoparasites, including protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes, which affect more than 30% of the human population, and medicinal plants of potential use in their treatment. Because vaccinations do not work in most instances and the parasites have sometimes become resistant to the available synthetic therapeutics, it is important to search for alternative sources of anti-parasitic drugs. Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites with interesting biological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-parasitic and anti-microbial properties. These drugs often interfere with central targets in parasites, such as DNA (intercalation, alkylation), membrane integrity, microtubules and neuronal signal transduction. Plant extracts and isolated secondary metabolites which can inhibit protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Trichomonas and intestinal worms are discussed. The identified plants and compounds offer a chance to develop new drugs against parasitic diseases. Most of them need to be tested in more detail, especially in animal models and if successful, in clinical trials.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/11/12771protozoaparasitesmedicinal plantssecondary metabolitesmolecular targets |
spellingShingle | Michael Wink Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites Molecules protozoa parasites medicinal plants secondary metabolites molecular targets |
title | Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites |
title_full | Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites |
title_fullStr | Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites |
title_full_unstemmed | Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites |
title_short | Medicinal Plants: A Source of Anti-Parasitic Secondary Metabolites |
title_sort | medicinal plants a source of anti parasitic secondary metabolites |
topic | protozoa parasites medicinal plants secondary metabolites molecular targets |
url | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/11/12771 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelwink medicinalplantsasourceofantiparasiticsecondarymetabolites |