Abstract
Eimerian parasites are the main intestinal tract pathogens in many animals, which invade and damage the intestinal epithelium causing severe injuries and economic loss. Our study was planned to examine the ameliorative effect of Rumex nervosus leaf extracts (RNE) against Eimeria tenella-induced changes in caecal goblet cells and cytokines of chickens. The infected chickens with E. tenella were treated with 50, 100, 200 mg/Kg RNE, respectively. Amprolium was used as a reference drug. Our result showed that RNE contained 8 phytochemical components that were able to decrease the number of oocysts in bird’s faeces. Also, the number of goblet cells was decreased after infection. This number was increased after RNE treatment. In addition, RNE caused upregulation of the mucin gene, MUC2 after E. tenella infection. Moreover, the infection caused upregulation in the inflammatory cytokines IL1β, IL 6, INF-γ and LiTAF. This increase in mRNA expression of IL1β, IL 6, INF-γ and LiTAF was about 5, 5.6, 4 and 5.8 fold, respectively. Collectively, R. nervosus is a promising medicinal plant with anticoccidial, and anti-inflammatory properties and could be used for the treatment of eimeriosis.