Anticoccidial and Cytotoxic Activities of Moltkiopsis ciliata Leaf Extract: In vitro Evaluation against Eimeria tenella Oocysts and MCF-7 Cells

Background: Moltkiopsis ciliata is a medicinal desert plant rich in diverse secondary metabolites with potential antiparasitic and cytotoxic activities. Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro anticoccidial activity of a 70% ethanolic leaf extract of M. ciliata against non-sporulated Eimeria tenella oocysts and to evaluate its cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Non-sporulated oocysts were incubated with various concentrations of the extract in 2.5% potassium dichromate, and inhibition of sporulation was determined at successive incubation intervals, with toltrazuril serving as the positive control. Cytotoxic activity was assessed using the MTT assay following exposure of MCF-7 cells to extract concentrations ranging from 15.6 to 1,000 µg/mL for 24 h. Result: The extract inhibited oocyst sporulation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At the highest tested concentration (12.5 mg/mL), approximately 93% inhibition was maintained after 96 h, demonstrating an effect comparable to that of toltrazuril. Moderate inhibitory activity was observed at 6.25 mg/mL, whereas concentrations of 3.125 mg/mL and below primarily delayed sporulation without producing sustained inhibition. In MCF-7 cells, the extract induced a dose-dependent but moderate reduction in cell viability. At the highest tested concentration (1,000 µg/mL), cell viability decreased to approximately 66%, corresponding to about 34% growth inhibition; consequently, the IC50 was not reached within the tested concentration range. Collectively, these findings provide preliminary evidence for the promising anticoccidial activity of M. ciliata leaf extract against E. tenella oocysts, while indicating relatively limited cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells under the experimental conditions. Further bioassay-guided fractionation, chemical standardization, mechanistic investigations, and in vivo validation are warranted to identify the bioactive constituents and establish their efficacy and safety.