Abstract

Investigation was made into the effect of aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) using an in ovo assay. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of pharmacologically active and nutritionally relevant compounds in the seed. Nine-day-old embryonated chicken eggs were divided into ten groups of fives and received various treatments.  Groups 1 to 6 received 100 EID₅₀/0.1 ml NDV pre-treated with M. oleifera seed extracts at final concentrations of 250, 200, 100, 50, 25 and 10 mg/ml in that order, controls were included. Embryo survival was observed daily. Allantoic fluid from treated eggs and serum from hatched chicks were collected for spot hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests to detect NDV in the eggs and antibodies against NDV in the hatched chicks respectively. Results showed that embryo survival was directly proportional to increasing extract concentration. Just as increase in extract concentration was directly proportional to virus death and inversely proportional to production of antibody against NDV. The current findings have clearly demonstrated that M. oleifera seed extract has nutritional value as well as strong antiviral activity against NDV in ovo. In vivo trials are needed to validate the use of resin from the tree in controlling Newcastle disease in chickens.

Key words: Moringa oleifera, newcastle disease virus, in ovo, phytochemical analysis.