Science et technologie vétérinaires

In-Vitro Anticoccidial Efficacy of Crude MethanolExtracts of Selected Medicinal Plants against EimeriaTenella

Abstract

Anteneh Wondimu, Mohammed Abibaker, Samrawit Melkamu, Yehualashet Bayu

A study was carried out to evaluate in-vitro anticoccidial efficacy of methanol extracts of Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina, Nicotiana tabacum, Moringa oleifera, Croton macrostachyus, and Hagenia abyssinica against Eimeria tenella. None-sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella isolated from experimentally infected chickens and exposed to crude extracts concentration of 100mg/ml, 50mg/ml, and 25mg/ml. Amprollium 1.5 mg mL-1 and 2.5% K2Cr2O7 used as positive and negative control, respectively. The result showed dose and time dependent sporulation inhibition, was seen in oocysts exposed to crude extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, Croton macrostachyus and Moringa oleifera. The better efficacy was seen with Moringa oleifera. The higher and lower percentage of sporulated oocyst was (0%, 5%), (0%, 0.5%) in Vernonia amygdalina and Moringa oleifera, respectively. The study also showed that the exposure to higher concentration of crude extract (100mg/ml) produced greater proportion of oocyst wall distortion which was 6,000, 9,600 and 5,400 for Vernonia amygdalina, Croton macrostachyus and Azadirachta indica, respectively. Phytochemical analysis of this plants showed the presence of bioactive metabolites such as saponins, tannins, alkaloids, steroids and glycosides and flavonoids, which may contributes for in vitro anticoccidal effects. These results are of a major importance as contamination of poultry houses with coccidian oocysts is very difficult to control and all attempts to eradicate infections with Eimeria spp. Therefore further studies aimed to confirm the pharmacological effects of these plants, toxicity evaluation and in vivo studies need to be done before the usage of these plants.