A Brief Insight on Anti-Toxoplasma Gondii Activity of Some Medicinal Plants

The treatment of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection accentuates the problem of the limited effectiveness of the available anti-parasitic agents and their side effects and also, the potential appearance of resistant Toxoplasma strains. Thus, the search of the newer and more effective drugs is needed. This study aimed to review the efficacy of some herbal plants extracts on T. gondii infection, in an attempt to overcome the side effects of hazardous drugs. It was found that many herbal plants extracts exhibit anti-Toxoplasma activity including Nigella sativa, Zingiber officinale, Myrrh, Piper nigrum, Capsicum frutescens, Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica (neem) and Melia azedarach. However, their efficacies in human toxoplasmosis remain to be confirmed in clinical trials. The use of such medicinal plants extracts has a more beneficial effect in prophylaxis as well as treatment of this protozoan infection through being safer, acceptable, affordable, culturally compatible, widely available at low cost and suitable for treatment of chronic toxoplasmosis.