In vitro Anticoccidial, Antioxidant Activities and Biochemical Screening of Methanolic and Aqueous Leaves Extracts of Selected Plants

Avian coccidiosis, a protozoan parasitic disease caused by genus Eimeria. Due to emergence of drug resistant Eimeria species, this study was aimed to evaluate anticoccidial potentials of Ficus racemosa, Cassia fistula and Syzygium cumini leaves extracts. In vitro anticoccidial efficacy of extracts was evaluated by oocysts sporulation inhibition and sporozoites viability inhibition assays of mixed Eimeria species oocysts. The set up was examined after 48hrs of incubation. DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and total antioxidant capacity were used for the evaluation of antioxidant potential of extracts. Among tested extracts maximum oocysts sporulation inhibition 86.81±2.35% and sporozoites viability inhibition was 86.73±1.67% at concentration 30 mg/ml of C. fistula methanolic leaves extract against E. mitis and E. tenella respectively. Highest radical scavenging capacity 67.82±0.00 and reducing power 2.17±0.01 was shown by F. racemosa and C. fistula methanolic leaves extract respectively. Maximum total antioxidant power was observed in C. fistula 30.95±0.35 and F. racemosa 21.93±1.41µg/mg methanolic leaves extracts. Antioxidant compounds including phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, carbohydrates etc. were detected through biochemical screening of selected plants extracts. The maximum amount of phenols 32.50±0.00µg/ml and flavonoids 40.00±1.00µg/ml were recorded in C. fistula methanolic extracts. It is concluded that selected plants methanolic extracts possess best anticoccidial and antioxidant activities due to presence of medicinally important phytochemicals. Further research is needed for identification and isolation of anticoccidial active compounds from these plants that can be used in the formulation of drugs against coccidiosis