Plant Parts and Extracts Having Anticoccidial Activity

Abstract

Natural plant parts and extracts of plants selected from the group consisting of Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis and Terminalia chebula containing compounds such as gallic acid, derivative of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins have been found to control coccidiosis in poultry and, more specifically, coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. The plant parts and natural extracts result in a reduction of lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality.

We claim: 
     
         1 . Compositions for controlling coccidiosis in animals, comprising plant parts or extracts of plants containing efficacious amounts of compounds selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins 
     
     
         2 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein the plants are selected from the group consisting of  Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis  and  Terminalia chebula.    
     
     
         3 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts. 
     
     
         4 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein the coccidiosis is caused by  Eimeria  spp. 
     
     
         5 . The compositions of  claim 4 , wherein the  Eimeria  spp. are selected from the group consisting of  E. tenella, E. maxima  and  E. acervulina.    
     
     
         6 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein controlling coccidiosis includes a reduction in caecal lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality in poultry. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling coccidiosis in animals, comprising the step of administering an efficacious amount of either plant parts or extracts of plants selected from the group consisting of  Quercus infectoria, Rhus chinensis  and  Terminalia chebula.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plant parts or extracts of plants contain efficacious amounts of compounds selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the coccidiosis is caused by  Eimeria  spp. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the  Eimeria  spp. are selected from the group consisting of  E. tenella, E. maxima  and  E. acervulina.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein controlling coccidiosis includes a reduction in lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality. 
     
     
         13 . A method of reducing the activity of sporozoites in an animal infected with  Eimeria  spp., comprising the step of administering to the animal, plant parts or extracts of plants containing an efficacious amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of gallic acid, derivatives of gallic acid, gallotannins and hydrolysable tannins 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the extracts are natural extracts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the  Eimeria  spp. are selected from the group consisting of  E. tenella, E. maxima  and  E. acervulina.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reduction in the activity of sporozoites results in a reduction in caecal lesion score, oocysts per gram of fecal matter and mortality in poultry.