a review on the use of natural and herbal medicines against protoscolices of hydatid cysts

Hydatidosis is the most important global parasitic infectious diseases, both in humans and animals. echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid cysts, which can be lodge at different organs of host such as liver, lung and even heart and brain which may lead to death (1). presently, numerous scolicidal chemical agents have been administrated for inactivation of the hydatid cyst contents. because of increasing resistance and adverse effects of medications, there is a need to find alternative therapies either with the least or without side effects (2). till now, several efforts have been conducted on herbal extracts against protoscolices of hydatid cysts throughout the world. therefore, the current review searched the following electronic databases: pubmed, science direct, scopus, and google scholar (published papers according to the keywords). the results of this review study showed that the extracts of plants such as allium sativum, ferula assa-foetida, trachyspermum ammi, rhus coriaria, berberis vulgaris and punica granatum are among the most effective plants used against protoscolices of hydatid cysts. in addition, medicinal plants showed the best efficacy and promising results are discussed elaborately.