Minifying the Effects of Newcastle Disease Virus on Structural Development of Chicken Embryo Using Curcuma longa and Baphia nitida Extracts

Newcastle disease is an important disease of poultry globally. Its economic impact is severe due to the high mortality rate which may reach 100 % in affected poultry farms. Leaf extracts of Baphia nitida and Curcuma longa were subjected to phytochemical screening and antiviral assay against Newcastle disease virus using embryonated chicken eggs. Nine (9) day-old embryonated chicken eggs were grouped into 5 which received various treatments. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of active and nutritionally relevant compounds. The ability of the extracts to neutralize the infectivity and multiplication of NDV in treated groups was carried out by determining the egg/embryo (EE) weight ratio, the egg/embryo neutralization, mean death time and structural changes. Embryo survival was observed daily. The study showed that the weights of the egg and embryo were significantly (p< 0.05) higher in the protected groups and the survival rate increased in the protected group as well. The structural anomalies observed on embryos from infected eggs were fully developed in those eggs protected by individual extracts, and the mixture of the two extracts proved to be most effective. Therefore, this has shown the Baphia nitida and Curcuma longa extracts have antiviral activity, and the activity was felt most the mixture of the two extracts was mixed.