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Paramphistomosis Treatment Efficacy: A Thesis on Herbal vs. Allopathic Drugs
Last Updated: August 9, 2025
Author Bio
Dr. Umbreen Javed Khan is a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, economic impact, and therapeutic treatment of parasitic diseases in livestock, providing critical insights for veterinary science and agricultural sustainability.
Paramphistomosis Treatment Efficacy: A Thesis on Herbal vs. Allopathic Drugs
In the world of livestock management, farmers and veterinarians often stand at a crossroads between age-old traditions and modern pharmaceuticals. When it comes to parasitic infections like paramphistomosis, which can devastate herds of cattle and buffaloes, the choice of treatment is critical. With the growing threat of anthelmintic resistance, the need for scientifically-validated, effective, and safe alternatives has never been more urgent.
A landmark Ph.D. thesis by Dr. Umbreen Javed Khan addresses this challenge head-on. The research provides a rigorous, comparative analysis of the paramphistomosis treatment efficacy of traditional herbal remedies versus a standard allopathic drug. This post unpacks the data from these controlled experiments, revealing which treatments stand up to scientific scrutiny.
Designing the Definitive Test
To ensure a fair and accurate comparison, the study was meticulously designed. “One hundred and fifty buffaloes were used in fifteen controlled experiments to compare the efficacy of certain indigenous drugs” (p. 159). These herbs—Nigella sativa (Kalongi), Fumaria parviflora (Shahterah), Caesalpinia crista (Karanjwa), and Saussurea lappa (Qust-e-Shireen)—were tested against the widely used allopathic drug, Oxyclozanide.
The primary measure of success was the reduction in faecal egg count (eggs per gram, or EPG), which directly indicates the number of parasites being cleared from the animal’s system. “Efficacy of drug was calculated on the basis of reduction in faecal egg count after treatment and by controlled method” (p. 164).
The Scientific Benchmark: Efficacy of Oxyclozanide
First, a baseline for maximum efficacy had to be established using the conventional treatment.
- Treatment: One group of buffaloes was treated with “Oxyclozanide (Zanil) at recommended dose rate i.e., 10mg / kg body weight” (p. 163). This group acted as the “treated control” (p. 163).
- Results: Oxyclozanide demonstrated powerful and rapid action. The efficacy after the first dose was 66.66% by the 18th day. After a second dose was administered, the efficacy surged, reaching an impressive 97.43% by the 28th day of the trial (p. 172).
- Conclusion: This high level of effectiveness set the gold standard against which the herbal remedies would be measured.
The Herbal Contenders: How Did They Perform?
With the benchmark set, the focus shifted to the traditional, plant-based medicines.
Top Herbal Contender: Nigella sativa (Kalongi)
This renowned seed was tested at three dose levels (30, 40, and 50 mg/kg). Its performance was exceptional.
- Efficacy: At the highest dose of 50 mg/kg, Nigella sativa achieved an efficacy of 71.79% after the first dose. This is noteworthy as it slightly outperformed Oxyclozanide’s first-dose efficacy. After the second dose, its final efficacy climbed to a remarkable 94.87% (p. 166).
- Key Insight: While Oxyclozanide was marginally more effective in the end, Nigella sativa proved to be an incredibly potent and very close competitor. Crucially, the study noted that “No toxic signs were observed in any of the treated case” (p. 167), highlighting its excellent safety profile.
Runner-Up: Fumaria parviflora (Shahterah)
This herb also showed significant antiparasitic properties, though it was a step behind the front-runners.
- Efficacy: At its highest dose (50 mg/kg), Fumaria parviflora reached an efficacy of 59.52% after the first dose. After the second treatment, its final efficacy was a very respectable 92.85% (p. 168).
- Key Insight: While highly effective, it did not match the potency of Nigella sativa or Oxyclozanide. The study concluded its efficacy was “still better then Fumaria parviflora” (p. 168).
Other Herbal Treatments: Caesalpinia crista and Saussurea lappa
The remaining two herbs, while part of the traditional arsenal, showed lower efficacy in this scientific setting.
- Caesalpinia crista (Karanjwa): Achieved a final efficacy of 92.30% at its highest dose after the second treatment (p. 169).
- Saussurea lappa (Qust-e-Shireen): Was the least effective of the group, with a final efficacy of 85.36% after two doses (p. 171).
The Final Ranking: A Clear Hierarchy of Treatment Efficacy
The comprehensive data from the controlled trials allowed the researcher to establish a definitive order of effectiveness.
“The efficacy order was Oxyclozanide, Nigella sativa, Fumaria parviflora, Ceasalpinia crista and Saussurea lappa.” (p. xv).
This single sentence from the thesis abstract provides the ultimate takeaway: while the modern drug is number one, Nigella sativa is an outstandingly strong number two.
Beyond Parasites: The Impact on Animal Health
A crucial part of the study was assessing how these treatments affected the overall health and productivity of the animals.
- Milk Production: All successful treatments led to an increase in milk yield, demonstrating the economic drain the parasite causes. After treatment with Oxyclozanide, milk production increased by 35.47%. For Nigella sativa, the increase was up to 31.07% (p. 167, 172). This confirms that effective treatment directly translates to improved productivity.
- Blood Parameters: The research found that infected animals had lower levels of total serum protein and albumin, indicators of poor health and malnutrition. Following treatment with the effective drugs, these parameters “became normal after treatment” (p. xv). This shows that the treatments didn’t just kill the parasites; they allowed the animal’s body to recover and return to a healthy state.
Conclusion
This deep dive into Dr. Umbreen Javed Khan’s thesis provides a clear, evidence-based assessment of paramphistomosis treatment efficacy. The findings are a powerful testament to the value of integrating scientific validation with traditional knowledge. While Oxyclozanide remains the most potent tool in the arsenal, the research proves that Nigella sativa is not just a folk remedy but a highly effective and safe natural alternative. For veterinarians and farmers seeking sustainable and effective ways to manage livestock health, this research provides a clear path forward, championing an approach that respects both tradition and science.
Source & Citations
Thesis Title: EPIDEMIOLOGY, ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND THERAPY OF PARAMPHISTOMOSIS IN CATTLE AND BUFFALOES
Researcher: Umbreen Javed Khan
Guide (Supervisor): Prof. Dr. Tanveer Akhtar
University: DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB, LAHORE, PAKISTAN.
Year of Compilation: Not specified, research conducted from Nov. 2002 to Oct. 2004.
Excerpt Page Numbers: xv, 159, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 196, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 211, 212.
Disclaimer
Some sentences have been lightly edited for SEO and readability. For the full, original research, please refer to the complete thesis PDF linked in the section above.
Given the high efficacy and safety profile of Nigella sativa, what do you think are the biggest barriers to its wider adoption as a standard veterinary treatment? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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