Anticoccidial and toxicological activity of Asclepias curassavica L. and Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch decocts against Eimeria bovis oocysts

Abstract

 The present work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the use of decocts of different plant species for the control of bovine eimeriosis. Decoctions of two species were prepared, namely, Asclepias curassavica L. and Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch. The decocts were prepared according to the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 5th edition, and the for test, oocysts of Eimeria bovis were purified from feces obtained from naturally infected cattle by modification in Sheather's method. After purification, the oocysts were suspended in physiological solution and separated into tubes, into which were added the decocts to be tested. All decoctions antiparasitic activity showed after 24 hours the exception E. pulcherrima showed that only 97% effectiveness after 72 hours of observation. Noteworthy is effective for the results obtained from the plant A. curassavica once induced rupture of 100% of the oocysts. Therefore, it is important to carry out future studies that aim to identify the active principles responsible for the antiparasitic activity observed, as well as to evaluate the antiparasitic efficacy of the most elaborated extracts, and thus may become part of the composition of disinfectants in environments, particularly opposite the Eimeria species.