Herbal Remedies for Coccidiosis Control: A Review of Plants, Compounds, and Anticoccidial Actions

Abstract

Coccidiosis is the bane of the poultry industry causing considerable economic loss. Eimeria species are known as protozoan parasites to cause morbidity and death in poultry. In addition to anticoccidial chemicals and vaccines, natural products are emerging as an alternative and complementary way to control avian coccidiosis. In this review, we update recent advances in the use of anticoccidial phytoextracts and phytocompounds, which cover 32 plants and 40 phytocompounds, following a database search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Four plant products commercially available for coccidiosis are included and discussed. We also highlight the chemical and biological properties of the plants and compounds as related to coccidiosis control. Emphasis is placed on the modes of action of the anticoccidial plants and compounds such as interference with the life cycle of Eimeria, regulation of host immunity to Eimeria, growth regulation of gut bacteria, and/or multiple mechanisms. Biological actions, mechanisms, and prophylactic/therapeutic potential of the compounds and extracts of plant origin in coccidiosis are summarized and discussed.

Figure 1

Plant compounds target different stages of the life cycle of Eimeria species. Eimeria species take 4–7 days to complete their life cycles. They have 3 different developmental stages in poultry: sporogony, merogony, and gametogony. This scheme is modified from the previous publication [40]. Different phytocompounds inhibit the growth of Eimeria species at sporogony and merogony stages.

Figure 2

Immune and prebiotic modulation underlying anticoccidial compounds. In the lumens of bird guts, bacteria and Eimeria species interact with each other. Particularly, some beneficial bacteria can reduce gut lesions caused by Eimeria species. Gut-associated T cells, macrophages, and other immune cells can mount immune responses to harmful Eimeria and bacteria. Phytocompounds from plants can inhibit the multiplication of Eimeria, expand the growth of beneficial bacteria, and/or boost immunity, leading to controlling Eimeria infection in the gut of poultry.