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Herbal Treatment for Paramphistomosis: A Thesis on Natural Remedies vs. 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.
Herbal Treatment for Paramphistomosis: A Thesis on Natural Remedies vs. Drugs
As drug resistance in livestock parasites becomes a growing concern, are there viable, safer alternatives to conventional medicines? The search for effective and sustainable treatments has led researchers back to nature, exploring the power of traditional herbal remedies. A rigorous Ph.D. thesis provides a fascinating head-to-head comparison, testing the efficacy of indigenous plants against a standard allopathic drug to combat paramphistomosis in buffaloes.
This post will unpack the data from this in-depth study, revealing which herbal treatments show the most promise. We will examine the specific dosages, efficacy rates, and overall performance of these natural remedies, offering a scientific perspective on the future of herbal treatment for paramphistomosis.
The Need for Alternative Treatments
The reliance on conventional drugs isn’t without its problems. The thesis notes that while modern drugs are effective, many “possess adverse effects” (p. 208). Furthermore, the increasing incidence of “anthelmintic resistance is increasing in livestock” (p. 161), making the search for new solutions urgent. This has led to renewed interest in phytomedicine, as “herbal (indigenous) drugs have been used since ancient times to cure diseases and several medicinal plants have been used to treat paramphistomosis” (p. 161).
The study was designed to scientifically validate these traditional practices, setting up controlled experiments to measure their true effectiveness.
The Scientific Showdown: Herbs vs. Allopathic Drug
The research involved 150 buffaloes, divided into carefully managed groups. “One hundred and fifty buffaloes were used in fifteen controlled experiments to compare the efficacy of certain indigenous drugs, including Nigella sativa seeds, Fumaria parviflora aerial parts, Caesalpinia crista seeds and Saussurea lappa roots with Oxyclozanide against paramphistomosis” (p. 159).
Efficacy was measured by tracking the reduction in eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) before and after treatment.
The Allopathic Standard: Oxyclozanide
- Treatment: Buffaloes in this control group were given “oxyclozanide (Zanil) at recommended dose rate i.e., 10mg / kg body weight” (p. 163).
- Efficacy: Oxyclozanide proved highly effective. After a single dose, efficacy was “66.66% on 18th day post treatment” (p. 172). After a second dose, its efficacy reached a remarkable “97.43% on 28th day post treatment” (p. 172). This set the benchmark against which the herbal remedies were measured.
Herbal Contender 1: Nigella sativa (Kalongi Seeds)
- Treatment: Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or kalongi, was tested at three different dose levels: 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg body weight.
- Efficacy: The results were highly promising. At the highest dose (50mg/kg), the efficacy was “71.79% on 18th day of first dose” (p. 166). After the second dose, its effectiveness rose significantly, with the final efficacy reaching 94.87% (p. 166).
- Key Finding: The study concluded that “The efficacy of all the three doses was comparable and more or less similar. The efficacy of Oxyclozanide was still better than Nigella sativa” (p. 167). However, with no toxic signs observed, it presents a very strong and safe alternative.
Herbal Contender 2: Fumaria parviflora (Shahterah)
- Treatment: This herb was also tested at 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg dosages.
- Efficacy: Fumaria parviflora demonstrated solid results. At the 50mg/kg dose, it achieved a “59.52% reduction in EPG count on 18th day of first dose” (p. 168). Following a second dose, the efficacy peaked at 92.85% (p. 168).
- Key Finding: While effective, its overall performance was slightly below that of Nigella sativa. The study notes, “The efficacy of all the three doses was comparable and more or less similar. The efficacy of Oxyclozanide was still better then Fumaria parviflora” (p. 168).
Herbal Contender 3: Caesalpinia crista (Karanjwa)
- Treatment: Tested at 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg dosages.
- Efficacy: At the highest dose of 50mg/kg, Caesalpinia crista showed a “64.10% on 18th day of first dose” (p. 169). After the second dose, the efficacy reached 92.30% (p. 169).
- Key Finding: Similar to Fumaria parviflora, it was effective but not superior to the allopathic standard. “The efficacy of all the three doses was comparable and more or less similar. The efficacy of Oxyclozanide was still better that Caesalpinia crista” (p. 170).
Herbal Contender 4: Saussurea lappa (Qust-e-Shireen)
- Treatment: Tested at 30, 40, and 50 mg/kg dosages.
- Efficacy: Saussurea lappa was the least effective of the herbal group. At the 50mg/kg dose, its efficacy was “56.09% on 18th day of first dose” (p. 171). After the second dose, its final efficacy was 85.36% (p. 171).
- Key Finding: “The efficacy of Oxyclozanide was still better than Saussurea lappa” (p. 171).
The Final Ranking of Efficacy
The research provides a clear hierarchy of effectiveness based on the controlled experiments.
“The efficacy order was Oxyclozanide, Nigella sativa, Fumaria parviflora, Ceasalpinia crista and Saussurea lappa” (p. xv).
This conclusion is critical: while the allopathic drug remains the most potent, the herbal treatment Nigella sativa comes in as a very close and effective second, outperforming the other tested herbs significantly. Importantly, the study also notes that for all the herbal drugs, “No side effects were noted due to the use of any of these plant origin drugs” (p. xv).
Conclusion
This thesis provides invaluable scientific validation for the use of traditional remedies in modern veterinary practice. While Oxyclozanide remains the top performer, the research demonstrates that a herbal treatment for paramphistomosis using Nigella sativa is a powerful, safe, and highly effective alternative. These findings pave the way for developing integrated parasite management programs that can reduce reliance on synthetic drugs, combat resistance, and offer a more sustainable future for livestock health.
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, 161, 163, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 208.
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.
What are your thoughts on integrating scientifically-backed herbal remedies into standard veterinary care for livestock? Share your perspective in the comments below!
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