Natural Products as Therapeutic Agents for Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis (known as Bilharziasis) is the disease caused by a blood born fluke (trematode) of the genus Schistosoma. The intermediate hosts of all digenetic trematodes are snails and schistosomes are no exception. Adult schistosome worms live in a mammalian host, Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent tropical disease in Africa after malaria and is of great public health and socio-economic importance in the developing world. This study is to clarify that Natural product extracts with non-toxic medicinal properties should be explored for possible intervention in schistosomiasis as a disease involving impairment of metabolism of infected subjects. These inspire more hope for reducing the intensity of schistosomal infection by reduction in worm burden, ova count, granuloma size and number leading to improvement in histopathological picture of liver, spleen and kidney as a result of reducing inflammatory and fibrotic reactions of schistosoma. Services Related Articles in ASCI Similar Articles in this Journal Search in Google Scholar View Citation Report Citation How to cite this article: Sanaa Ahmed Ali , 2011. Natural Products as Therapeutic Agents for Schistosomiasis. Research Journal of Medicinal Plants, 5: 1-20. DOI: 10.3923/rjmp.2011.1.20 URL: http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=rjmp.2011.1.20 Received: April 13, 2010; Accepted: May 15, 2010; Published: July 14, 2010