Natural products as anthelmintics: safeguarding animal health.

The research article provides a detailed review of natural products, including 500 compounds and 17 semi-synthetic derivatives, known to inhibit various life stages and activities of parasitic worms that infect a wide range of animals, including livestock, companion animals, and exotic or endangered species.

Overview of the Study

• This research paper is essentially a broad review of natural products with anthelmintic properties, or those capable of treatment or prevention of infestations with parasitic worms (helminths).
• The study covers a wide collection of 500 compounds, both natural and 17 semi-synthetic derivatives. The scope of analysis is up until December 2022, capturing a vast amount of accumulated knowledge.

Helminths and Their Impact

• The research focuses on helminths, which include nematodes, flukes, and tapeworms. These parasites infect various animals, threatening their welfare, health, productivity, and survival.
• Infected animals could range from commercial livestock like sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, and fish, to companion animals like dogs and cats, and even high-value, endangered, or exotic animals.

Natural Products with Anthelmintic Properties

• The study details the chemical structures of the identified natural products, their source organisms, and their anthelmintic properties.
• Each natural product’s potency as an anthelmintic is measured, with particular attention paid to the precise nature of the bioassay target species and the animal hosts that were involved in the bioassays.
• The main objective is to provide a comprehensive review of these natural products, showcasing their potential for treating helminthic infestations. This is potentially crucial information for veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, in particular for sustainable and organic farming where synthetic chemical anthelmintics might not be permitted or desirable.