Plant Parts and Extracts Having Anticoccidial Activity
Natural plant parts and extracts of plants selected from the group consisting of Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis and Terminalia chebula containing compounds such as gallic acid, derivative of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins have been found to control coccidiosis in poultry and, more specifically, coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. The plant parts and natural extracts result in a reduction of lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality.
1 . Compositions for controlling coccidiosis in animals, comprising plant parts or extracts of plants containing efficacious amounts of compounds selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins
2 . The compositions of claim 1 , wherein the plants are selected from the group consisting of Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis and Terminalia chebula.
3 . The compositions of claim 1 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts.
4 . The compositions of claim 1 , wherein the coccidiosis is caused by Eimeria spp.
5 . The compositions of claim 4 , wherein the Eimeria spp. are selected from the group consisting of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina.
6 . The compositions of claim 1 , wherein controlling coccidiosis includes a reduction in caecal lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality in poultry.
7 . A method of controlling coccidiosis in animals, comprising the step of administering an efficacious amount of either plant parts or extracts of plants selected from the group consisting of Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis and Terminalia chebula.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant parts or extracts of plants contain efficacious amounts of compounds selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the coccidiosis is caused by Eimeria spp.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the Eimeria spp. are selected from the group consisting of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina.
12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein controlling coccidiosis includes a reduction in lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality.
13 . A method of reducing the activity of sporozoites in an animal infected with Eimeria spp., comprising the step of administering to the animal, plant parts or extracts of plants containing an efficacious amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the Eimeria spp. are selected from the group consisting of E. tenella, E. maxima and E. acervulina.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the reduction in the activity of sporozoites results in a reduction in caecal lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality in poultry.