Anticoccidial activities of Piper betle L essential oil on Eimeria tenella oocysts

Coccidiosis poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, with synthetic antibiotics and disinfectants being the primary tools for control. This study investigated the potential of Piper betle L essential oil (PBEO) as a natural alternative against Eimeria tenella, one of the most pathogenic Eimeria species affecting poultry. Our findings revealed that PBEO exhibits significant anticoccidial effects through two primary mechanisms: (i) oocysticidal activity by disintegrating oocyst walls and (ii) inhibition of the sporulation process. PBEO demonstrated oocysticidal activities ranging from 8.67 to 95.33 across concentrations from 0.04 to 40. Notably, at 72 h post-incubation, a 0.04 PBEO concentration significantly reduced the number of sporulated oocysts (P ≤ 0.05) to 71.67, showing effects comparable to those of formalin. PBEO reduced 50 of oocyst sporulation (IC50) in the concentration of 1.31 at 72 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified the primary constituents of PBEO, including eugenol, beta-caryophyllene, and other key compounds, collectively constituting 96 of the oil. This research underscores the potential of PBEO as a natural anticoccidial agent and lays the groundwork for further studies aimed at identifying, isolating, and developing active compounds that may specifically target the sporogony process in coccidian parasites. © The Author(s) 2024.