Antibacterial activity, acute toxicity and the effect of garlic and onion extract chitosan nanoparticles on the growth indices in Rainbow Rooster Chicken

Antibiotics in poultry as growth promoters have the perspective of products acceptability and human health concern. Plant extracts have been used as alternatives to antibiotics but dosage varies and reducing agents in the chicken gut in-activates most of the potential compounds. This research aimed to determine the antibacterial activity, acute toxicity in mice and the effect of Garlic and Onion Chitosan Nanoparticles on growth indices in Rainbow Rooster Chicken. Study involved two treatments, treatment 1 consisted of Chitosan Nanoparticles prepared from aqueous of Garlic (Allium sativum) and Onion (Allium cepa L.) (CHIAGO) whilst treatment 2 was Chitosan Nanoparticles prepared from total Phenol and Ajoene rich extract (CHITPA). Products were characterized by pH sensitivity, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Disc diffusion method was used to test for activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with Fosbac as the positive control. Acute toxicity in mice through oral administration of the nanoparticles solution at dosage of 5% and 10%. Nanoparticles and chitosan solution were administered orally to chicken at dosage of 5% and 10%. The treatments against E. coli gave resistance zone of inhibition (≤ 12), an intermediate zone of inhibition (13 to 15) while against S. aureus gave resistance zone of inhibition (≤ 12), an intermediate zone of inhibition (13 to 15) and susceptible zone of inhibition (≥ 16). Alanine aminotransferase and urea had no significant changes (p > 0.05) but significant differences in PCV in mice (p 0.05) observed in crypt depth and PCV% when compared with the contolled chicken. Garlic and Onion Chitosan Nanoparticles can act as alternative to antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry.