Ameliorative Effects of Teucrium polium Leaves Ethanolic Extract on Liver Histopathology Induced by Eimeria papillata

Background: Teucrium polium is an herb utilized in traditional medicine for its biological activity. In the present study, T. polium leaves ethanolic extract (TPLEE) was investigated for its effects on coccidiosis resulting from Eimeria papillata infection in mice. Methods: In vivo, TPLEE (150 mg/kg) was administered for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. The anticoccidial and anti-inflammatory effects of TPLEE were evaluated by measuring oocyst suppression and assessing liver histopathology, respectively. Result: Indicated that treatment with 150 mg/kg TPLEE led to oocyst suppression percentage of 91.2±4.1, similar to the efficacy of the reference drug amprolium (93.2±3.9) and was associated with a significant decrease in the number of developmental parasitic stages in jejunal sections. Infection with the parasite causes metabolic disturbance, inflammation and liver injury, as evidenced by histopathological changes such as Kupffer cell activation, vacuolated hepatocytes and increases in inflammatory cellular infiltration. In addition, infection led to a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MAD) and nitric oxide (NO) and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). The TPLEE showed significant hepatoprotective ability by improving the above parameters. TPLEE demonstrated both anticoccidial properties and the ability to alleviate preexisting liver damage caused by Eimeria infection.