Aim of study: To evaluate antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and hepatomodulatory effects of aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. (Guinea hen weed) root and leaf on growing pullets.Area of study: Abeokuta, Nigeria.Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty eight eight-weeks-old Isa-brown pullets were divided into eight treatments which consisted in birds administered root extracts or leaf extracts at four different concentrations (0, 15, 30 and 45 ɡ/L). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 pullets per replicate.Main results: Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract (78.42 opɡ) compared with leaf extract (103.58 opɡ). Oocyst counts was lower (p<0.05) in pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract compared with other treatments. Bacteria counts reduced (p<0.05) in pullets administered root extract compared with leaf extract. Pullets administered 45 ɡ/L root extract recorded lowest (p<0.05) bacteria count. Bursa and thymus weights increased in pullets administered root or leaf extract compared with the control. Pullets administered 30 and 45 ɡ/L root or leaf extract had highest (p<0.05) antibody titre against Newcastle disease vaccine 8.80, 8.86, 8.74 and 8.80 (log2) respectively. There was fatty infiltration in liver of control birds, while hepatocytes appeared normal in liver of pullets administered P. alliacea extracts.Research highlights: P. alliacea root and leaf extracts at 45 ɡ/L performed best as antimicrobial, immune-stimulating and hepato-protective agent in pullets. This study highlights P. allicaea as a valuable antimicrobial and immunostimulating agent in poultry production.

This study investigated the response of laying hens to aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea root and leaf. A total of 288 eighteen-week-old Isa brown pullets were used for the 25-week study. The pullets were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial experimental layout in a completely randomized design. The pullets were distributed into two groups administered root extract or leaf extract. Pullets in each group were allotted to four subgroups administered aqueous extracts of Petiveria alliacea at 15, 30 and 45 g l–1 concentration levels making eight treatments in total. Each treatment was replicated three times with twelve pullets per replicate. Eimeria oocyst counts and intestinal bacteria counts were lower (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0028, respectively) in hens administered 15, 30 and 45 g l–1 of Petiveria alliacea extracts than the control. The highest (P < 0.0001) antibody titre against Newcastle disease vaccine was recorded in hens administered 30 and 45 g l–1 concentrations of root (9.06 and 9.10 log2, respectively) and leaf (9.08 and 9.18 log2, respectively) extracts. The liver sections of hens in all treatments appeared normal. In conclusion, aqueous extract of Petiveria alliacea root and leaf at 30 and 45 g l–1 concentrations performed best as antimicrobial and immune stimulating agent without impairing liver health.

Se utilizaron un total de 288 pollitas marrones Isa de ocho semanas de edad dispuestas en un diseño experimental factorial 2 × 4 para evaluar la respuesta al crecimiento, el desarrollo de los órganos, la hematología y la bioquímica sérica de las pollitas en crecimiento administradas con extracto acuoso de Petiveria alliacea. Después de equilibrar el peso, las aves se asignaron a 8 tratamientos que comprendían aves administradas con extracto de raíz acuosa a 4 niveles de concentración (0, 15, 30 y 45 ɡ / litro) y extracto de hoja acuosa a 4 niveles de concentración (0, 15, 30 y 45 ɡ /litro). Cada tratamiento se repitió 3 veces con 12 aves por réplica. El examen fitoquímico mostró que las concentraciones de alcaloides, fenólicos, antioxidantes, taninos, fitatos, esteroides, antraquinonas y oxalatos fueron más altas (P