Effects of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.F.) Nees on performance, mortality and coccidiosis in broiler chickens

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata (Burm f.)Nees (AP) is a shrub found throughoutnindia and orther Asian countries sometimes called "India Echinacea" it has been used historically in epidemics. It is well known for its active compound andrographolide which is used as medicine for humans. AP is said to have beneficial effects on various modifying functions and ailments ranging from degenerative diseases to the common cold. This investigation was set up to elucidate the properties of active compound and effect of AP leaves on broiler performance, mortality and coccidiosis in broiler chicken and also to determine the antibacterial of AP on diarrheal bacteria such as Salmonellae, E.coli, and P. Multocida. The resulted found that 70% and 85% alcohol extract of AP leaves with 7.30% andrographolide in concentrations of 1:10 showed in disk diffusion susceptibility tests high activity to the diarrheal bacteria S.typhimurium and P. multocida, whereas the aqueous extract of AP leaves had no activity. Also the administration of 0.4% AP leaves with 7.30% andrographolide as supplement in broiler feed reduced the mortality rate of broilers and caused the lowest lesion scoring of the coccidiosis infection in the intestinal tract compared to the control group.