Prophylactic Potentials of Piper Guineense Leaves Extract Augmented With Vitamin C Against Newcastle Disease Virus Infection in Embryonated Chicken Eggs.

ABSTRACT The global cases of Newcastle disease among poultry farming in Nigeria has severely encroached the eco nomic standard of poultry farmers. This study was undertaken in order to assess the activity of Piper guineense leave extract and vitamin C against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The phytochemical constituent of ethanolic extract of the plant was determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. The activity of the extract and mixtures against NDV was determined using in vivo technique in embryonated chicken eggs. The photochemical constituents of the plant extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides. There was decreased in egg weights from 63.18g to 44.12 and embryonic weights from 4.75g to 3.86g of the infected eggs after72h and these were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in these eggs protected with the extract of which the mixture of the extract and vitamin C recorded the highest weight. There was also significant (P< 0.05) reduction in infectivity of NDV as the embryo – egg weight ratio (EE) and neutralization values increased among the protected eggs, and the mixture of the extract and vitamin C showed the most pronounced activity. Therefore, the extract exhibited protective activity against NDV and the activity was most pronounced for the mixture of the extract and vitamin C.