Anthelmintic Activity of Foeniculum vulgare Seeds and Meta-Analysis of Some Other Medicinal Plants from Pakistan

Abstract

Helminthiasis diseases caused by parasitic worms in animals have been a significant challenge worldwide, resulting in substantial economic losses and decreased productivity in the agricultural sector. The use of synthetic drugs to treat these infections has several drawbacks, including the development of drug resistance, high costs, and potential toxicities to both animals and humans. Therefore, researchers looked for other ways to solve the problem and found that medicinal plants might have anthelmintic activities because they have many secondary metabolites. These metabolites have demonstrated the potential to act as natural anthelmintics, making them attractive options for developing novel drugs. Firstly, an experiment was done to test the effectiveness of Foeniculum vulgare seed extract against Gastrothylax crumenifer. Subsequently, we employed a meta-analysis approach to identify plant species and compounds with the most promising anthelmintic activities. The methodology will involve a comprehensive search of various databases to identify relevant research articles on the anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants. The study found that Foeniculum vulgare seed extract was effective against Gastrothylax crumenifer. The study also identified the most active and promising medicinal plants that warrant further investigation for their potential to eradicate parasites. Furthermore, a meta-analysis revealed anthelmintic activity in 34 plants, with the Musaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae families receiving the most extensive research. The findings have implications for developing cost-effective and safe anthelmintic treatments for animals.