Phenolics of Botanical Origin for the Control of
Coccidiosis in Poultry
Abdullah SM Aljohani
Department of Medical Biosciences, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia *Corresponding author:jhny@qu.edu.sa
Abstract
Eimeria are the absolute intestinal parasites belonging
to phylum Apicomplexa, causing the intestinal disease known as coccidiosis. It
is a lethal disease that affects a large variety of animals and birds including
cattle, camel, goats, sheep, poultry, etc. causing severe devastation and
mortalities. Controlling poultry coccidiosis by the means of preventive and
prophylactic use of chemical drugs is currently being practiced on a commercial
scale. Regardless of a history of successful use of these drugs, resistance and
public health concerns demand their alternatives. Several alternatives including
vaccination, organic acids and botanicals, are being suggested. Several
preparations of botanicals have been experimented and found useful, but exact
compound identification is a question of interest for scientists. Phenolic
compounds are among the most abundant phytochemicals found in diverse structural
forms comprising mainly phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids, and others.
Research states that they have the potential to control coccidiosis because of
their direct and indirect anticoccidial activities. Phenolics have been reported
to control coccidiosis by targeting Eimeria species directly and reducing
the damages by antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Phenolics kill Eimeria by engulfing schizonts, rupturing the cell
membrane of sporozoites, and inhibiting growth by stopping ATP synthesis
mechanisms and other pathways depending on their chemical nature and the
subgroup of phenolic compounds. Because of the high potential of being oxidized;
they capture the reactive species produced because of cell rupture during rapid
schizogony and immune invasion. Phenolics give negative feedback to several
inflammatory mediators and reduce the inflammatory destruction of the gut, hence
minimizing the loss. Regardless of these activities, phenolics have some
drawbacks i.e., they reduce nutrient uptake, disturb carbohydrate disturbance,
have cytotoxic effects, and undefined long-term response. Extensive research is
needed to investigate the proper anticoccidial compound and reduce the side
effects of phenolics to manage coccidiosis in an accurate, rapid, and safe way.
To Cite This Article:
Aljohani ASM, 2024. Phenolics of botanical origin
for the control of coccidiosis in poultry. Pak Vet J, 44(2): 222-228. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.179