A Review: Therapeutic Potential of Indian Traditional Medicinal Herbs in Fascioliasis Control

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by liver flukes of the genus Fasciola that continues to impart significant economic burdens on livestock production and poses emerging threats to human health in endemic regions, including the Indian subcontinent. The conventional control strategy for fascioliasis is based on synthetic chemical anthelmintics and molluscicides, which develop drug resistance, are toxic to non-targeted organisms and are toxic to the environment. This review work analyses the potential of Indian traditional herbs as an alternative to fascioliasis control with a dual strategy, like targeting the intermediate host freshwater snails (molluscicidal activity) and directly affecting the parasitic trematodes (anthelmintic activity). Depending upon noble research from Indian laboratories over the past decades, we collect evidence for Indian medicinal plants like Alstonia scholaris, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Dregea volubilis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Nigella sativa, Tamarindus indica, and Thevetia peruviana. The active phytoconstituents like alkaloids, curcuminoids, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins show various mechanisms of action including enzyme inhibition (acetylcholinesterase, phosphatases, and cytochrome oxidase), tegumental disruption, and oxidative stress modulation. The review highlights the potential of phytochemicals and the advantages of biodegradable plant-based composition. Challenges, including standardisation, field efficacy validation, and commercialisation pathways are addressed, with recommendations for integrating traditional knowledge with modern parasitological approaches for sustainable fascioliasis management.