Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis
Islam, Z., Tariq, K., Islam, A., Hussain, S., Syed, J., Khurshid, I., Ahmad, F. (2025). Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis. EKB Journal Management System, 17(2), 131-152. doi: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.464836
Zeenat Islam; Khurshid A. Tariq; Aqleemul Islam; Shabbir Hussain; Jasmeena Syed; Ibraq Khurshid; Fayaz Ahmad. "Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis". EKB Journal Management System, 17, 2, 2025, 131-152. doi: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.464836
Islam, Z., Tariq, K., Islam, A., Hussain, S., Syed, J., Khurshid, I., Ahmad, F. (2025). 'Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis', EKB Journal Management System, 17(2), pp. 131-152. doi: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.464836
Islam, Z., Tariq, K., Islam, A., Hussain, S., Syed, J., Khurshid, I., Ahmad, F. Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 17(2): 131-152. doi: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.464836

Critical Appraisal of Indian Medicinal Plants as Anthelmintic Agents: Emphasis on In Vitro vs. In Vivo Models in Ruminant Helminthiasis

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology
Volume 17, Issue 2, December 2025, Pages 131-152
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/eajbsz.2025.464836
Authors
Zeenat Islam1; Khurshid A. Tariq2; Aqleemul Islam1; Shabbir Hussain3; Jasmeena Syed1; Ibraq Khurshid4; Fayaz Ahmad1
1Advanced Research laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar – 190006, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
2Islamia College of Science & Commerce, Srinagar, Kashmir 190003, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
3Department of Zoology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226025, India.
4Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal 191131, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Abstract
Gastrointestinal helminth infections in ruminants pose a serious threat to Indian livestock, with synthetic anthelmintics becoming increasingly ineffective due to resistance and cost barriers. This review systematically evaluates the anthelmintic potential of Indian medicinal plants as alternative therapies, emphasizing the distinction between in vitro and in vivo models. A total of 56 studies were included, predominantly in vitro, with only limited in vivo validation. The most frequently studied plant families include Apiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae. While many plant extracts demonstrated promising effects against helminths in screening assays using free-living organisms (e.g., Caenorhabditis elegans, Pheretima spp.), these findings cannot be directly equated with clinical efficacy. Our analysis underscores the need for biologically relevant models and standardized evaluation protocols. We highlight critical gaps in methodological rigor, model relevance, and regional specificity in helminth susceptibility. This review advocates for future research prioritizing in vivo trials, phytochemical characterization, and pharmacodynamic profiling to transition from preliminary screening to validated therapeutic applications.
Keywords
Medicinal plants; Anthelmintic therapeutics; Ruminants; Helminthoses; Ethnoveterina
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