Botanical Control of Parasites in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Phytotherapy may be defined as the use of plants for the treatment of ailments and those represent a practice that dates since ancient times. It refers to the use of whole plants, their parts such as flowers, leaves, roots and seeds as well as substances extracted from them (plant extracts and essential oils) for treating various diseases. It also may imply their use to support traditional treatment with commercial drugs. Plants and their extracts are an important part of pharmacopoeia in less developed parts of the world, but more recently in the advancement societies. However, plant-based products may also be used for the treatment of diseases in animals, prevalently in livestock. Ethnopharmacology may be implied in veterinary medicine due to the potential therapeutic efficacy, reduced susceptibility to microbial and parasitic resistance, as well as lowered risk of adverse effects and decreased residues in animal products and environment in comparison with chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, botanical control of various diseases in animals can also be sustainable from the financial point of view. Therefore, medicinal plants are a valuable part of the field of drug discovery and represent an important source of new drugs and drug leads. In this regard, antiparasitic properties are a common point of focus in studies aimed to validate the pharmacological effects of herbal products. A huge number of such plants and their products are considered suitable for the treatment of almost every parasitic disease in livestock. In pets, there are also an increasing number of such studies in dogs and cats, whereby plants product were proven to be effective against various parasites.