In Vitro Oocysticidal Effect of Vernonia amygdalina Del, Leaf Extract and Fractions on Sporulating Eimeria tenella Oocysts

 Anticoccidal, Vernonia amygdalina, oocysticidal amprolium, Eimeria tenella oocysts

*Corresponding Author: drchukwudi@gmail.com
DOI:https://doi.org/10.61594/tnpr.v7i4.2026.185

Page No: 388-401
Volume: 7, Issue 4, 2026
Trends in Natural Products Research
Copy Right: NAPREG

Abstract

Poultry not only provides good animal protein but also provides a source of livelihood and economic growth for individuals and society. Poultry production is threatened by coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro oocysticidal activities of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf extract and its fractions. Sporulation inhibition bioassay was used to evaluate the activity of the crude methanol extract and its solvent (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) fractions on sporulation of Eimeria oocysts. The extract and fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis. Oral inoculation of the experimental broiler birds with oocysts was used to determine the specie of Eimeria through postmortem examination. VA extract and fractions were administered in concentrations of 0.1; 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml in a Mcmaster culture chamber of concentrated sporulating oocysts under microscopic observation. Amprolium (0.1; 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml), was used as control. Crude extract showed high levels of terpenoids and alkaloids, moderate concentrations of saponins, reducing sugars, total phenolics and steroids; ethyl acetate fraction had high concentration of terpenoids, moderate concentration of total phenolics, reducing sugars, saponins and alkaloids; n-hexane fraction had high concentration of steroids and terpenoids, moderate concentration of tannins, reducing sugar and alkaloids, while methanol fraction showed steroids, total phenolics, reducing sugars and saponins in moderate concentration. Postmortem examination of dead birds showed lesions consistent with Eimeria tenella infection. Oocysticidal activity was evidenced by lack of sporulation of oocysts when fractions were mixed with oocysts in the Mcmaster chamber slide. The highest oocysticidal activity (62.67 %) was recorded with ethyl acetate fraction. These results provide evidence for the use of VA as a preventive agent against coccidiosis, and as feed additive in the control of coccidiosis