INHIBITORY PROPERTIES OF CRUDE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF GOSSYPIUM HIRTUSUM LEAVES ON NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS (NDV) IN CHICKS
Abraham, O. J.1, Ezeifeka, G.O.4,
Odiba, P.A.2, Yahaya, O.1, Yusuf, D.2, Haruna,
I.3, Yahaya-Oruma, U.2, Miachi, O.E1. and
Joshua, M.T 1.
1Biology/Microbiology Unit, Dept of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah Kogi State.
2Chemistry/Biochemistry Unit, Dept of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State.
3Mathematics/Statistics Dept, Federal Polytechnic, Kogi State.
4Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State.
E-mail: josephpyiguh@yahoo.com.
Abstract: Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) causes Newcastle disease in poultry and grows readily in embryonated eggs. Infection of poultry by NDV results in huge economic losses to farmers and prevention is only by means of vaccines which are not assessible and affordable and have also not protected the poultry industry from frequent outbreak of the disease. This necessitated the invention of an alternative control method, thus the antiviral activity of the ethanolic extract of Gossypium hirsutum leaves on NDV was studied using chicks. Extract of the plant was obtained by Soxhlet extraction. Antiviral study was carried out with Forty five (45) 8- weeks old chicks arranged into nine groups of five. 0.2ml of 10-2 dilution of the LD50 concentration (108.7 particles/ml) of the virus (Hertforthshire isolate) was injected into each chick in seven groups. The extract (10mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 150mg/ml, 200mg/ml and 250mg/ml) was fed to seven groups by gavaging. Three groups served as virus, extract and negative controls respectively. The chicks were observed for virus and extract activity for fourteen days. One chick died onday one in the group fed with 10mg/ml, while two deaths were observed on day two in the groups fed with 10 and 20mg/ml of extract respectively. No death was observed in any group afterwards. There was no significant difference in protection (P<0.05) and antiviral activity across the concentrations. The ethanolic extract of the plant was found to be non toxic (p< 0.05) to the chicks. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of G. hirsutum has antiviral activity (p < 0.05) on Newcastle disease Virus and it is safe for use on chicks. Further studies should be carried on the toxicological effect at other concentrations and the plant should also be screened for antiviral activity on other viral diseases.