JITV Vol. 22 No 4 Th. 2017: 196-204 196 Anticoccidial Activity of Artemisinin and Extract of Artemesia annua Leaves in Chicken Infected by Eimeria tenella Wiedosari E, Wardhana AH Indonesian Research Center for Veterinary Sciences E-mail: eningwied@yahoo.com (receiced: 05-10-2017; revised: 16-11-2017; accepted 20-12-2017) ABSTRAK Wiedosari E, Wardhana AH. 2017. Aktivitas antikoksidia artemisinin dan ekstrak daun Artemesia annua pada ayam yang diinfeksi dengan Eimeria tenella. JITV 22(4): 196-204. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14334/jitv.v22i4.1622 Penggunaan antikoksidia pada ayam yang terus menerus telah memicu timbulnya resistensi obat dan residu dalam jaringan, sehingga perlu dicari obat alternatif yang berbasis herbal. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji aktivitas antikoksidia artemisinin dan ekstrak daun Artemesia annua pada ayam yang diinfeksi dengan Eimeria tenella. Sebanyak 35 ayam jantan strain Cobb dibagi menjadi tujuh perlakuan dengan lima ulangan, yaitu kelompok ayam normal (P I), diinfeksi tanpa pengobatan (P II), diinfeksi dan diobati dengan 8,5 ppm, 17 ppm, 34 ppm masing-masing untuk P III, P IV dan P V, diinfeksi dan diobati dengan 17 ppm ekstrak daun A. annua (P VI) dan diinfeksi dan diobati dengan Sulfa (P VII). Setiap ayam diinfeksi dengan E. tenella dosis rendah, yaitu 2000 ookista kecuali kelompok ayam normal. Pengobatan dilakukan setiap hari selama delapan hari secara oral. Variabel yang diamati adalah gejala klinis, jumlah ookista dalam feses, pertambahan bobot badan, skor perlukaan sekum, nilai hematokrit (PCV) dan hemoglobin (Hb). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian 17 ppm ekstrak daun A. annua (P VI) paling efektif dalam menurunkan jumlah ookista (74,18%) diikuti dengan perlakuan 34 ppm artemisinin (58,14%). Ekstrak daun A. annua dan artemisinin juga mampu mengurangi perlukaan sekum secara nyata (P<0,05). Walaupun pertambahan bobot badan dan nilai Hb juga tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang nyata pada semua perlakuan (P>0,05), tetapi pemberian artemisinin dan ekstrak daun A. annua mampu mempertahankan nilai PCV secara nyata dibandingkan P II dan P IV (p<0,05) sehingga dapat digunakan sebagai antikoksidia alternatif untuk ayam. Kata kunci: Eimeria tenella, Artemisinin, Artemesia annua, Koksidiosis ABSTRACT Wiedosari E, Wardhana AH. 2017. Anticoccidial activity of Artemisinin and Extract of Artemesia annua leaves in chicken infected by Eimeria tenella. JITV 22(4): 196-204. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14334/jitv.v22i4.1622 The continuous use of anticoccidial drug in chicken often continuously generates drug resistance and tissue residue; so thatconsequently, a safe alternative anticoccidial drug based on herb is fundamentally required. The aim of thise study was to examine anticcocidial activity of artemisinin and extract of Artemesia annua leaves in chicken infected by Eimeria tenella. A total of 35 chickens of Cobb strain was divided into seven groups with five replicates birds per group, i.e. uninfected chicken group (P I), infected but untreated chicken group (P II), infected and treated chicken group with 8.5 ppm, 17 ppm, 34 ppm, for P III, P IV and P V respectively, infected and treated chicken with 17 ppm of A. annua extract (P VI) and infected and treated chicken with Sulfa (P VII). All chicken, except the uninfected group, whereas infected with 2000 infective oocyst of E. tenella except the uninfected group. Treatment was delivered by oral, once per day for eight days. The criteria observed were clinical manifestation of chickens, number of oocyst in feces, body weight, cecal lesion score, haematocrit (packed cell volume) and haemoglobin value. The results showed that extract of A. annua leaves (P VI) was the most effective treatment to reduce the number of oocyst in feces (74.18%), followed by 34 ppm of artemisinin group (P VII). In addition, application of A. annua extract and artemisinin was significantly able to decreased the cecal lesion score (P<0.05). Even though body weight and Hb value were not indifferent significantly different (p>0.05), however A. annua extract and artemisinin treatments were significantly able to hold PCV value on normal level compared to P II and P IV (P<0.05). It concluded that extract A. annua leaves and artemisinin could be used an alternative anticoccidial in chickens. Key Words: Eimeria tenella, Artemisinin, Artemesia annua, Coccidiosis INTRODUCTION Coccidiosis in chicken remains a major problem in poultry industry in Indonesia and many other countries. This disease is caused by intracellular protozoa, Eimeria spp, which is highly pathogen and able to multiply at 21 – 32°C and 75-85% humidity. Infection of the E. tenella in poultry injures intestinal mucosae which results in