In vitro evaluation of the inhibitory effects and antioxidant properties of hydro-ethanolic extracts from the roots of Sarcocephalus latifolius against Eimeria spp. sporozoites

Introduction: Coccidiosis is a severe and lethal parasitic disease affecting birds globally, caused by protozoans from the genus Eimeria, posing significant economic challenges. Africa native tree Sarcocephalus latifolius is traditionally used to treat diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders and parasitic diseases. The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate the impact of a processed hydroethanolic extract of S. latifolius root on the survival of poultry Eimeria sporozoites. Methods: Spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluate antioxidant activity, specifically the DPPH and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The total phenolic (TP) and flavonoid (TF) levels were also measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride techniques, respectively. The extract was tested in vitro for oocysticidal sporulation suppression at five different concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg/mL). The reference controls were K2Cr2O7 (2.5%) and Amprolium (20%) (negative and positive, respectively). Results: The ascorbic acid’s antioxidant activity (97.37 ± 0.86 μM Fe(II)/g) and that of the S. latifolius root extract (86.21 ± 4.28 μM Fe(II)/g) were comparable (P > 0.05). S. latifolius root extract ability to trap free radicals was tested similar (P > 0.05) to that of ascorbic acid. Compared to the untreated control, S. latifolius root extract significantly reduced (P < 0.001) the count of sporulated Eimeria maxima oocysts to a level comparable to that of Amprolium 20% (P > 0.05). Conclusion: S. latifolius root extract seems to have the potential properties as an alternative to conventional anticoccidial drugs in controlling of poultry coccidiosis.