Evaluation of phyto-therapeutic efficacy of Artemisia annua and Calotropis procera against bovine tropical theileriosis

Abstract Theileriosis is one of the most important ticks borne hemo-protozoan diseases of cattle causing huge economic losses. The current investigation was undertaken to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and impact on hematological indices and biochemical markers of Artemisia annua L. and Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand for the novel treatment of sub-clinical bovine tropical theileriosis. A total 18 sub-clinical theileriosis positive cows were selected and divided randomly into three groups (n = 6). Group I treated with A. annua plant extract @ 100 mg/kg BW PO for six days, group II treated with A. annua plant crude powder @ 1000 mg/kg PO for six days and group III received C. procera flower crude powder @ 100 mg/kg body weight orally 8 doses on alternate days. Clinical study revealed slight increase in body temperature, respiratory and heart rates while hematological analysis revealed decrease in haemoglobin, PCV, platelet count, TEC, TLC and neutrophil and slight increase in percentages of lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil whereas blood biochemical parameters revealed decrease in total serum protein and albumin levels and increase in serum AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and BUN levels in all sub-clinical theileriosis affected cows. The group I showed 100% efficacy with improvement in clinical parameters and significant improvement in altered PCV, TEC, TLC, monocyte, eosinophil, serum protein and creatinine at 21st day post treatment. However, the drug showed adverse effect on liver and kidney function. The group II and III showed 83.67% recovery rate with improvement in clinical parameters and significant improvement in altered platelet count, TLC, neutrophil, monocyte, serum protein, BUN and creatinine levels at 21st day post treatment. It is concluded that Artemisia annua L. plant showed 100% efficacy and Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand flowers showed promising results for treatment of sub-clinical bovine tropical theileriosis in cattle without any side effects.