Vernonia amygdalina is one of the plants that have been evaluated for its anticoccidial efficacy in broiler chickens, yet no toxicological profile of its safe use has been investigated. The aim of the study was evaluate the oral acute toxicity in order to determine its safety in the management of avian coccidiosis. The leaves of V. amygdalina were powdered and subjected to methanol extraction using Soxlet apparatus and subsequently partitioned to obtain hexane, butanol, and aqueous residue fractions. A total 25 broiler chickens at 3 weeks of age were divided into 5 groups each of 5 chickens. A single dose of 2,000 mg/kg of suspension of the extracts was administered to the birds in each group; distilled water was given to the control. Clinical signs, gross pathology, histopatholgy, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. The phytochemicals found in the leaves are alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenols. The study revealed that the plant is of low toxicity in broiler chickens with an LD50 above 2,000 mg/kg.
Key words: Acute toxicity, methanolic extract, Vernonia amygdalina leaf, broiler chickens
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