Treatment of Cestoda tapeworms using Peganum harmala: Review article

The human intestine is home to parasites called tapeworms. The term "tapeworm infection" describes this ailment. A larval cyst is the term for the young, dormant tapeworm. It is not limited to the intestine; it can also reside in other body areas. This illness is called cysticercosis or larval cyst infection. The symptoms of intestinal tapeworms are typically modest. Moderate to severe symptoms include diarrhea and stomach pain. Larval cysts can cause serious illness if they form in the brain, liver, lungs, heart, or eyes. Tapeworm infections can be treated with anti-parasitic medications, and larval cyst infections can be treated with anti-parasitic medications or surgically removing the cyst. Herbs and medicinal plants, such as Peganum harmala, which has safe and effective therapeutic capabilities without causing severe adverse effects to the human body and intestines, can be used as an alternative to chemical pharmaceuticals and to treat symptoms. Traditional medicines have been made from this well-known plant's seeds, bark, and root. P. harmala and its active alkaloids, harmine and harmaline, in particular, have shown a number of pharmacological and therapeutic benefits in recent years. According to analytical analyses of its chemical makeup, the most significant components of the plant are beta-carboline alkaloids, which include harmalol, harmaline, and harmine. Among these naturally occurring alkaloids, harmine has been investigated the most. These beta-carbolines are found in various other plants outside P. harmala, including Banisteria caapi, and are used to treat various illnesses.