Abstract
Coccidiosis has a considerable economic loss in the poultry industry where the parasite Eimeria affect the animal survival. Natural products emerge as an essential and complementary means of controlling avian coccidiosis, in addition to anticoccidial medications. The current study examined the antioxidant activity of Rumex nervosus leaf extract (RE) in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. RE was able to decrease the induced weight loss due to infection. Also, RE significantly suppressed the oocysts released in chickens’ faeces. Moreover, the oxidative status due to E. tenella infection had been changed after treatment with RE where the level of glutathione, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide was improved indicating the antioxidant activity of the R. nervosus. Our findings suggested that RE could boost the induced oxidative stress in the caecum of infected birds, but studies are needed to determine the mechanism of RE action.