Chapter 20

Role of Phytochemicals in the Treatment of Ectoparasitic Infections

Scabies and Myiasis

Santwana Palai

Santwana Palai

Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

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Shyam Sundar Kesh

Shyam Sundar Kesh

Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex (Veterinary Biochemistry), Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

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Chinaza Godswill Awuchi

Chinaza Godswill Awuchi

Department of Physical Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

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Surajudeen Abiola Abdulrahman

Surajudeen Abiola Abdulrahman

Health Education England, Leicester, United Kingdom

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Chukwuebuka Egbuna

Chukwuebuka Egbuna

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Nigeria

Nutritional Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence, Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (PUTOR), University of Port-Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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First published: 22 September 2021

Summary

The sufferings from diseases spread by ectoparasites throughout the globe are making it a burning issue affecting human health individually and collectively. Insecticides rampantly being used against those ectoparasites are paving way for bigger problems like toxicity, resistance, residual concerns about their long-term effects on the environment, etc. Ancient records of usage of plants for medicinal purposes are documented in books like Rigveda, Ebers Papyrus, Bible, and so on. The pharmaco-active ingredients stored in root, leaves, seed, and bark of plants must be exploited. Researchers and medical experts are spearheading a paradigm shift to natural drugs from synthetic ones against serious ectoparasitic diseases. To this extent, the world is experiencing an increasing advocacy for exploration of phytochemicals from medicinal plants for cure and prevention of diseases like scabies and myiasis. These phytochemicals are safe, cheap, and are less susceptible to resistance. Their use can also facilitate the discovery of newer drug molecules for eradication of other ectoparasites like lice, tick, mites, etc., and alleviating diseases caused by them. These phytochemicals can serve as curative drugs in themselves or can be part of drug regimen prescribed for the prevention of scabies and myiasis. This chapter summarizes the role of phytochemicals in the treatment of scabies and human myiasis.

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