Anticoccidial Activity of Star Anise (Illicium
verum) Essential Oil in Broiler Chicks
Nawal Al-Hoshani1, Khalid M. Al Syaad2,
Zohaib Saeed*3,
Kostadin Kanchev4, Junaid Ali Khan5, Muhammad Asif Raza5 and Farhan
Ahmad Atif6
1Department
of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman
University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; 2Department
of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413,
Saudi Arabia; 3Department of
Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040,
Pakistan; 4Department of Pathobiology, University of
Forestry, Bulgaria; 5Department of Pathobiology, Faculty
of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University
of Agriculture, Multan, 66000, Pakistan; 6Medicine
Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus of University of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
*Corresponding author:zohaibsaeedahmad@gmail.com
Abstract
Coccidiosis is a devastating parasitic disease
caused by organisms belonging to the genus Eimeria infecting poultry
globally, causing havoc in the poultry industry. Synthetic anticoccidial drugs
are being used commercially for the prevention and treatment of disease. Drug
resistance and public health issues are leading to stopping their routine use.
Multiple alternatives are being suggested, among which essential oils are among
the novel substances to be tested against this disease. In this experiment, the
anticoccidial efficiency of the essential oil of Star anise (Illicium verum)
was evaluated in the broiler chicks. 270 broiler chicks were reared and divided
into 6 groups, each group replicated thrice to achieve randomization. Essential
oil of Star anise was given to three groups @ 1, 2, and 3%, and the rest of the
three served as medicated control, infected non-medicated control, and
non-infected non-medicated control groups. Effects on coccidial parameters
(lesion score, oocyst score, oocyst per gram of feces and fecal score),
performance parameters (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, organ
weight ratios and percent mortality), hematological and serum parameters were
estimated. Results suggested that essential oils were effective in significantly
reducing (P<0.05) coccidial parameters and improving performance parameters at a
3% concentration compared to infected medicated control groups. Based on the
anticoccidial potential of the essential oil of Star anise, its use may be
considered in the coccidiosis control programs in broiler chicks.
To Cite This Article:
Al-Hoshani N, Al Syaad KM, Saeed Z,
Kanchev K, Khan JA, Raza MA and Atif FA, 2023. Anticoccidial activity of Star anise (Illicium
verum) essential oil in broiler chicks. Pak Vet J, 43(3): 553-558. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.050