1) Filariasis is caused by parasitic roundworms transmitted through mosquito bites. It affects lymphatic vessels and can cause elephantiasis. 2) There are several antifilarial herbs and drugs used to treat filariasis including diethylcarbamazine citrate, ivermectin, Vitex negundo, Zingiber officinale, and Melia azadirachta. 3) Diagnosis involves tests to detect filarial antigens or microfilariae in blood samples. Treatment requires multiple doses of antifilarial drugs over time to eliminate microfilariae and prevent further infection.

1. HERBS ANTIFILARIAL AGENTS
priyanka.p.nayak
MPharm Pharmacology
Ist year

2. Filariasis:
• Filariasis is an infection caused by
parasitic filarial roundworms(nematodes).
• The infection is spread by mosquitoes and
other blood sucking insects (arthropods-
black flies).

3. HOW DOES A PERSON GET
FILARIASIS ?
Transmitted through bites of
infected female mosquito

4. There are 8 filarial nematodes which use human
as host.
• Wucheria bancrofti
• Brugia malayi
• Brugia trimor
• Loa loa
• Onchocerca volvulus
• Mansonella perstans
This are divided into 3 groups according to niche
within the body they occupy.
1.Lymphatic Filariasis
2.Subcutaneous Filariasis
3.Serous Cavity Filariasis

5. LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS:
• It is caused by wuchereria bancrofti,Brugia
malayi and Brugia trimori worms.
• These worms occupy lymphatic system
but in chronic cases lymph nodes.
• They leads to disease elephantiasis.

6. What is Lymphatic Filariasis?
 Parasitic disease where
worms enter the blood
stream through numerous
mosquito bites over a
number of years.
 Affects 120 million
individuals in over 80
countries in the tropical
regions due to stagnant
water and poor irrigation
systems

7. SUBCUTANEOUS FILARIASIS:
• It is caused by Loa loa(eye worm) causes
filariasis disease and Onchocerca volvulus
worm causes river blindness.
• These worms occupy subcutaneous layer
of the skin in the fat layer.
SEROUS CAVITY FILARIASIS:
• It is caused by Mansonella perstans
occupies serous cavity of abdomen.

8. Process of Infection

9. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
 Two Types
Acute Disease
Chronic Disease
Acute Disease:
 Episodes of fever with pain,swelling of lymph
nodes & lymphatic vessels,allergy -hives,rashes.
Chronic Disease:
 Episodic nighttime coughing /wheezing, rapid
increase in size of the organs
-elephantiasis(edema with thickening of the skin
&underlying tissues

10. • Microfilaria can migrate through eye
causing inflammation & chronic scaring of
cornea,retina&optical nerve leads to vision
impairment &loss of sight.
• Inflammation,constant itching scaring
leads to depigmentation of skin(leopard
skin).
• Loss of elasticity results in skin hardening.

11. ANTIFILARIAL DRUGS:
1. Diethylcarbamazine citrate
2. Ivermectin
3. Vitex negundo
4. Butea monsperma
5. Aegele marmelos
6. Ricinus Communls
7. Tribulus terrestris
8. Zingiber officinalis
9. Melia azidirachta

12. Diethylcarbamazine citrate:
Structure
• Biological Source:Piperazine-black pepper plant
• Composition: Dihydrogen citrate salt.
• Dosage: 6mg/kg bodyweight * 12 days.
• Mechanism of action: Microfilaricidal &
macrofilaricidal, death of microfilaria by blocking
cycloxygenase pathway in parasites.It alters the
microfilarial membranes so that they are readily
phagocytosed by the tissue bound monocytes.
• Adverse effects: Nontoxic, gastrointestinal irritation,
vomiting,dizziness,b.p falls,lymph node enlarges.
• Use: to prevent development of infect larvae

13. Ivermectin:
• Biological Source:Streptomyces avermitilis
• Composition: Macrolide
• Dosage: 200ug-400ug/kg body wt single
dose
• Therapeutic use: Kill infective larvae
• Mechanism of action: Parasite inactivates
binds to glutamate gated cl- channels
promotes increased membrane
permeability cause hyperpolarization of
nerve results paralysis &
death.potentiation of GABA nergic

14. Structure:

15. • Biological Source: Tribulus terrestris
• Family:Zygophyllaceae
• Part used:Fruits
• Chemical
Constituents:Diosgenin,chlorogenin
• Use:In Gabon stem sap used as eye
drops to control filariasis

16. • Mechansim of action:
 Inhibits receptor activated nuclear factor
kappaB ligand induced osteoelastogenesis
blocks proliferation of cell.

17. • Biological Source:Zingiber officinale
• Family:Zingiberaceae
• Parts used:fresh rhizome
• Chemical Cnstituents:Zingerone,zingiberol
• Uses:possessing efficacy to control the
parasite infection
• Mechanism of action:Induced oxidative
stress has decreased oxygen levels leads to
inhibition of mitochondrial depolarisation

18. Structure of Zingerone:

19. • Biological Source:Melia azidirachta
• Family:Meliaceae
• Part used:bark
• Chemical
Constituents:Nimbin,nimbidin,azadirachtin
• Mechanism of action:Inactivates virus
preventing replication.It stimulates cellular
mediated immunity and lymphote
proliferation.

20. Structure of nimbin:

21. • Biological source:Vitex negundo
• Family:verbenaceae
• Parts used: roots
• Chemical Constituents:vitexicarpin -flavone
analogue
• Structure:

22. • Biological Source:Ricinus communis
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Part used: leaf
• Chemical Constituents:ricin,ricinoleic acid
• Uses: dose dependent is studied which
increase in loss of motility of parasite
• Structure:

23. DIAGNOSIS:
• Immuno chromatographic Test -antigen is
detected by ELISA as gold standard in infection
with wuchereria bancrofti worm.
• Ultrasonography- X rays are diagnosed.
• Filarial antibody Test.
• IgE - IgA antibodiesTest.
• Demonstration of microfilarae in the peripheral
blood:
 thick blood smear:2-3 drops of free flowing
blood by finger prick method
membrane filtration method ;intravenous blood
filtered by pore size membrane filter
DECprovocation test

24. TREATMENT:
• Antifilarial Drugs are given in early 6-12days.
• Microfilaria eliminates from blood but adult is not
killed to increase effectiveness repeatedly at
various intervals drugs are given.
• Fever illness muscle/joint pain caused due to
rapid kill off of microfilaria then treated by
corticosteroids/antihistamine drugs.
• Bed rest, chemotherapy for infections bandages
antibiotics antiseptic soaps ointments are used
to reduce pain&swelling.

25. ADVERSE EFFECTS:
LOCALISED:
• Due to death of adult filarial worms.
• Begin in 2-4 days after single dose of
DEC.
• Localized pain,inflammation.
SYSTEMIC:
• Due to death of microfilaria.
• Begin few to48 hrs after taking DEC.
• Fever,headache malasia.

26. REFERENCES:
• www.medical.dictionary/antifilarial
• www.hindawi.com/journals

27. Thank You...,Thank You...,