Next Article in Journal
Epidemiology and Diversity of Paratuberculosis in the Arabian Peninsula: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Implications for One Health
Previous Article in Journal
Chemical Treatments Tested Against Xylella fastidiosa: Strategies, Successes and Limitations
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Pathogens
Volume 14
Issue 9
10.3390/pathogens14090842
pathogens-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Emerging Approaches to Anthelmintic Therapy Using Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals: A Review of Natural Products Against Strongyloidiasis

by
Julio López-Abán
1,
Belén Vicente-Santiago
1,
Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Soto
2,
Nancy Edith Rodríguez-Garza
1,3,
Miroslava Kačániová
4,5,
Iosvany López-Sandin
6,
Cesar Iván Romo-Sáenz
7,8,
Juan Manuel Ballesteros-Torres
8,
Lucio Galaviz-Silva
9,
Uziel Castillo-Velázquez
10,
Stefania Garzoli
11 and
Joel Horacio Elizondo-Luévano
1,2,3,*
1
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Group (e-INTRO), IBSAL-CIETUS (Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Salamanca, Ldo, Mendez Nieto s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
2
Laboratory of Natural Sciences, Biomolecular Innovation Group, Faculty of Agronomy, Campus of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero s/n, Ex Hacienda el Canada, Cd. Gral. Escobedo 66050, NL, Mexico
3
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad s/n, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, NL, Mexico
4
Institute of Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
5
School of Medical & Health Sciences, VIZJA University, Okopowa 59, 01 043 Warszawa, Poland
6
Engineering Department, Universidad Emiliano Zapata, Avenida Rodrigo Gómez, Sector Heroico s/n, Monterrey 64260, NL, Mexico
7
School of Medicie and Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Circuito Universitario, Campus II, Chihuahua 31109, Chih., Mexico
8
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad s/n, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, NL, Mexico
9
Laboratory of Molecular and Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad s/n, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, NL, Mexico
10
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, Campus of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero s/n, Ex Hacienda el Canada, Cd. Gral. Escobedo 66050, NL, Mexico
11
Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University, P. Le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
 
add Show full affiliation list
 
remove Hide full affiliation list
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2025, 14(9), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090842 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 23 July 2025 / Revised: 19 August 2025 / Accepted: 22 August 2025 / Published: 23 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Helminths and Control Strategies)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Strongyloidosis is a parasitic disease caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, a nematode with a complex life cycle that facilitates long-term persistence within the host. The infection affects millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions and poses a particular challenge in immunocompromised individuals. Although conventional treatments, such as ivermectin and albendazole, are generally effective, emerging concerns regarding drug resistance and adverse effects have prompted the search for alternative therapeutic options. In this context, natural products—including plant extracts, bioactive phytochemicals, and nanoparticle-based formulations derived from natural sources—are emerging as promising anti-Strongyloides potential. This review summarizes recent studies on natural products with anthelmintic activity against strongyloidiasis, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using terms related to Strongyloides, plant species, extracts, and bioactive compounds with nematocidal activity. Eligible studies included those reporting the activity of plants, plant extracts, and their purified metabolites against Strongyloides spp. Data were compiled into a comprehensive table including year of publication, author, plant species, active principle, application conditions, and target nematode species. The pharmacological treatment of this parasite varies according to its life cycle stage. Various biomolecules, phytoactive compounds, and novel plant-based formulations have demonstrated promising activity and may be considered both for treatment and for inclusion in control programs for strongyloidiasis. This review highlights medicinal plants and phytochemicals with ethnopharmacological background and experimentally validated activity against Strongyloides spp., integrating evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and experimental models, as well as clinical trials.
Keywords: anthelmintic activity; ethnopharmacology; helminthiasis; medicinal plants; natural products; nematodoses; strongyloidosis anthelmintic activity; ethnopharmacology; helminthiasis; medicinal plants; natural products; nematodoses; strongyloidosis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

López-Abán, J.; Vicente-Santiago, B.; Gutiérrez-Soto, G.; Rodríguez-Garza, N.E.; Kačániová, M.; López-Sandin, I.; Romo-Sáenz, C.I.; Ballesteros-Torres, J.M.; Galaviz-Silva, L.; Castillo-Velázquez, U.; et al. Emerging Approaches to Anthelmintic Therapy Using Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals: A Review of Natural Products Against Strongyloidiasis. Pathogens 2025, 14, 842. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090842

AMA Style

López-Abán J, Vicente-Santiago B, Gutiérrez-Soto G, Rodríguez-Garza NE, Kačániová M, López-Sandin I, Romo-Sáenz CI, Ballesteros-Torres JM, Galaviz-Silva L, Castillo-Velázquez U, et al. Emerging Approaches to Anthelmintic Therapy Using Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals: A Review of Natural Products Against Strongyloidiasis. Pathogens. 2025; 14(9):842. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090842

Chicago/Turabian Style

López-Abán, Julio, Belén Vicente-Santiago, Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Soto, Nancy Edith Rodríguez-Garza, Miroslava Kačániová, Iosvany López-Sandin, Cesar Iván Romo-Sáenz, Juan Manuel Ballesteros-Torres, Lucio Galaviz-Silva, Uziel Castillo-Velázquez, and et al. 2025. "Emerging Approaches to Anthelmintic Therapy Using Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals: A Review of Natural Products Against Strongyloidiasis" Pathogens 14, no. 9: 842. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090842

APA Style

López-Abán, J., Vicente-Santiago, B., Gutiérrez-Soto, G., Rodríguez-Garza, N. E., Kačániová, M., López-Sandin, I., Romo-Sáenz, C. I., Ballesteros-Torres, J. M., Galaviz-Silva, L., Castillo-Velázquez, U., Garzoli, S., & Elizondo-Luévano, J. H. (2025). Emerging Approaches to Anthelmintic Therapy Using Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals: A Review of Natural Products Against Strongyloidiasis. Pathogens, 14(9), 842. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14090842

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop