Anticoccidial effects of xanthohumol

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria parasites, is a significant disease in poultry.
• Xanthohumol (XN), a prenylated chalcone from hops, possesses various biological activities.
• Investigating natural compounds like XN for anticoccidial properties is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Xanthohumol (XN) against Eimeria parasites.
• To determine XN's ability to inhibit Eimeria sporozoite invasion in vitro and in vivo.
• To assess XN as a potential anticoccidial feed additive in poultry.

Main Methods:

• In vitro inhibition of Eimeria tenella sporozoite invasion in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells.
• In vivo rectal and oral challenges in chicks with Eimeria tenella and Eimeria acervulina sporozoites treated with XN.
• Administration of XN as a feed additive at 20 ppm against challenge infections with E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. tenella.

Main Results:

• XN treatment of Eimeria tenella sporozoites inhibited cell invasion by 66% and caused physical disruption.
• Chicks challenged with XN-treated Eimeria sporozoites showed reduced lesion scores and maintained weight gain.
• XN as a feed additive did not significantly control E. acervulina, E. maxima, or E. tenella infections, though some reduction in oocyst shedding was observed.

Conclusions:

• Xanthohumol demonstrates direct anticoccidial activity by inhibiting sporozoite invasion and causing morphological damage.
• XN shows promise as a therapeutic agent when directly applied to parasites but is less effective as a prophylactic feed additive.
• Further research is needed to optimize XN delivery and dosage for effective coccidiosis control in poultry.