PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND IN VITRO ANTI COCCIDIAL EFFECTS OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA METHANOL LEAF EXTRACTS ON EIMERIA TENELLA OF CHICKEN
Coccidiosis is a grave predicament in the poultry industry and it is one of the top financial burdens. The escalating threat of drug-resistant Eimeria species coupled with rising global needs for organic food, has spurred the quest for alternative treatment. The study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro anti coccidial effects of methanol leaf extract of Artemisia annua (MLEA) on Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) in chicken. Ninety (90 g) of ground Artemisia annua (A. annua) leaves was extracted with methanol using cold maceration method. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrates (324 ug/ml), phenols (129.9 ug/ml), flavonoids (84 ug/ml), tannins (55 ug/ml), triterpenes (23 ug/ml), alkaloids (22 ug/ml), cardiac glycosides (16 ug/ml), steroids (13 ug/ml) and anthraquinones (0.0012 ug/ml). Four concentrations of MLEA were used (5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, 20 mg/ml and 40 mg/ml) to study its effects on sporulation of E. tenella oocysts. Amprolium 15 mg/ml was used as the positive control, while 2% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was used as the negative control. The extract showed a dose-dependent anti coccidial effect. The highest sporulation inhibition of 100% was obtained at the highest concentration of MLEA used in the study (40 mg/ml). There was no significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference between sporulation inhibition produced by MLEA at 20 mg/ml and 40 mg/ml compared to the standard drug Amprolium. This study showed that methanol leaf extract of Artemisa annua possesses anti coccidial effects against Eimeria tenella and thus supports the traditional use of Artemisia annua as an anticoccidial.
Keywords: Anticoccidial, Artemisia annua, Eimeria tenella, Inhibition, Sporulation
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