Natural Products Chemistry: Innovation and New Frontiers in Antiparasitic Therapies

A special issue of Parasitologia (ISSN 2673-6772).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 1199

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico
Interests: natural products chemistry; pharmacognosy; biotechnology; microbiology; virology; immunology
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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico
Interests: ethnopharmacology; phytochemistry; phycology; analytical chemistry; organic chemistry; inorganic chemistry; neglected tropical diseases
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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico
Interests: antiparasitic activity; biological activity; plant extracts; isolation and purification; natural compounds; microbiology
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Guest Editor
Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales (e-INTRO), IBSAL-CIETUS (Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca—Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Interests: parasitology; helminthology; bioinformatics; neglected tropical diseases; biochemistry; immunology; ethnopharmacology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Resistance to conventional antiparasitic treatments remains a significant challenge for both public and veterinary health. Natural products, derived from plants, algae, microorganisms, animals, and marine organisms, represent a promising source for developing new antiparasitic therapies. This Special Issue of Parasitologia focuses on the chemistry of natural products and aims to bring together innovative research evaluating the antiparasitic efficacy of these natural products using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. By exploring the richness of natural biodiversity and its chemistry, this Special Issue will contribute to advancing new and effective therapeutic strategies against parasites affecting both humans and animals.

For this Special Issue, we are seeking the following types of contributions:

Original research articles: Papers reporting new findings on the antiparasitic activity of natural products, including studies on compounds derived from plants, algae, microorganisms, animals, and marine organisms, employing in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods.

Reviews: Comprehensive review articles on recent advances in the research of natural products with antiparasitic activity, covering both experimental and computational studies, with an emphasis on natural product chemistry.

Case studies and brief reports: Concise reports of significant or innovative findings in evaluating the antiparasitic activity of natural products.

Commentaries and opinions: Perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in using natural products for parasite control, focusing on natural product chemistry and interdisciplinary approaches.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer review process to ensure scientific quality and relevance.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Pathogens.

Dr. Raymundo Alejandro Pérez Hernández
Prof. Dr. Ramiro Quintanilla-Licea
Dr. Eduardo Sánchez-García
Dr. Joel Horacio Elizondo Luevano
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Parasitologia is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural products
  • antiparasitic activity
  • medicinal plants
  • microorganisms
  • marine organisms
  • animal byproducts
  • in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches
  • natural products chemistry
  • pharmacognosy
  • innovative therapies
  • ethnopharmacology
  • micro-nanoparticles
  • targeted therapy
  • epidemiology
  • purification and extraction
  • ligand–receptor activity

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 608 KiB  
Communication
Nematocidal Activity of a Variety of Plants Used in Mexico Against Strongyloides venezuelensis
by Joel H. Elizondo-Luévano, Abelardo Chávez-Montes, Antonio Muro, Belén Vicente-Santiago, Miroslava Kačániová, David G. García-Hernández, Aldo F. Bazaldúa-Rodríguez, Horacio Larqué-García, Uziel Castillo-Velázquez and Julio López-Abán
Parasitologia 2025, 5(2), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia5020018 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 243
Abstract
Strongyloidiasis represents a public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. The medicinal plants demonstrate the potential of plants as a source of molecules with helminthic activity. In this research, we assessed the potential of five extracts medicinally used in Mexico against Strongyloides [...] Read more.
Strongyloidiasis represents a public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. The medicinal plants demonstrate the potential of plants as a source of molecules with helminthic activity. In this research, we assessed the potential of five extracts medicinally used in Mexico against Strongyloides venezuelensis third-stage infective larvae (L3). Plant methanol (MeOH) extracts of Argemone mexicana (chicalote), Jatropha dioica (Sangre de Drago), Lippia graveolens (oregano), Thymus vulgaris (tomillo), and Kalanchoe daigremontiana (aranto) were prepared by the maceration technique. The toxicity of the extracts was evaluated in human red blood cells by the hemolysis test and in monkey kidney epithelial cells (Vero cells) using the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, we showed their antioxidant potential by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The methanolic extracts of A. mexicana, J. dioica, L. graveolens, and T. vulgaris exhibited significant activity against L3 cultures at 72 and 96 h post-incubation. None of the extracts showed hemolytic effects on red cells or Vero cells. L. graveolens demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity, with an EC50 of 19.80 µg/mL. Plant MeOH extracts used in this study showed a promising anthelmintic effect in vitro, making it a suitable candidate for future research in nematocidal therapies. Full article
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9 pages, 1290 KiB  
Communication
Haemonchosis Control in Sheep with Duddingtonia flagrans Fungi: Evaluation of the First Commercial Product in Brazil
by Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Letícia Alecho Requena, Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto and Júlio Cesar de Carvalho Balieiro
Parasitologia 2025, 5(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia5010011 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 421
Abstract
The resistance of small ruminants to synthetic anthelmintics and helminthosis poses considerable challenges to global livestock production. Integrating biological control with nematophagous fungi, particularly Duddingtonia flagrans, is crucial in addressing worm infestations. Although effective in experiments, the absence of a commercial product [...] Read more.
The resistance of small ruminants to synthetic anthelmintics and helminthosis poses considerable challenges to global livestock production. Integrating biological control with nematophagous fungi, particularly Duddingtonia flagrans, is crucial in addressing worm infestations. Although effective in experiments, the absence of a commercial product has been a limitation. The introduction of Bioverm®, the first commercial product using D. flagrans in Brazil, marks a significant advancement. This study on a Brazilian sheep farm evaluated a 167-day Bioverm® treatment, following moxidectin application, focusing on eggs per gram of feces (EPG), FAMACHA score, and sheep weight (WEIGHT). Statistical results showed marked improvements in all parameters after 80 days with Bioverm®. EPG values gradually declined, demonstrating successful biological control, while FAMACHA increased steadily, stabilizing after 130 days. Minor weight changes indicated effective nutritional management. These outcomes suggest Bioverm® significantly reduces dependence on chemical anthelmintics and addresses resistance issues. D. flagrans thus emerges as a promising tool for managing nematode infestations without negatively impacting animal weight. This research enhances the understanding of Bioverm®’s role, confirming its practicality as a viable alternative for helminth control in varied environments, thereby reinforcing its strategic importance in livestock management. Full article
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