Use of medicinal plants for treatment and prophylaxis of canine parasitic infections: a literature review

Introduction: Dogs have been perceived as providing companionship to all members of the family, yet they can act as a vector for the transmission of parasitic agents to humans, particularly those who own or care for them. Traditional medicine seem to demonstrate effects in the treatment of diseases in animals, however, it is necessary to prove their effectiveness using more recent scientific evidence.

Objective: The objective is to identify medicinal plants commonly used in the treatment and prophylaxis of parasitic infections in dogs.

Methods: A literature review was conducted by gathering data from the MEDLINE database, using the following search equations: “(“Plants”[Mesh] OR (“Plants/parasitology”[Mesh]) AND (“Phytotherapy/veterinary”[Mesh])”; “Medicinal Plants Treatment for Infested Dogs”; “Parasitic Infections in Dogs Treatment with Plants”. The selection criteria established ensured that only articles published between 2000 and 2023, which referenced the utilisation of medicinal plants in the management and prevention of parasitic infections in canines, were included. Furthermore, review articles and articles that referenced pharmacological treatments or treatments for other comorbidities were excluded.

Discussion and Conclusion: A total of 26 articles were selected, resulting in the identification of 112 species from 16 countries that can be used to treat or prevent infections and parasitic infestations. The most commonly used medicinal plants were: Azadirachta indica, Juniperus communis L., Melissa officinalis, Clibadium surinamense L., Olea europaea L., Juglans regia L., Allium sativum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Artemisia cina Berg ex Poljakov, Calendula officinalis L., Mentha piperita L., Cocos nucífera L., Ricinus communis L., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees and Juglans nigra L. The species in question contain a variety of compounds that may confer medicinal properties; however, the anthelmintic and anti-parasitic activity may be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, which are known to posses a range of beneficial properties, including anti-parasitic and anthelmintic effects.