Antioxidant and Antitussive Properties of Gongronema Latifolium Leaves Used Locally for the Treatment of Fowl Cough in Nigeria
2009
Essien, J.P. | Ebong, G.A. | Akpan, E.J.
The antioxidant and antitussive properties of Gongronema Latifolium used locally by Nigerian poultry farmers for the treatment of fowl cough was investigated. The phytochemical results revealed the presence of saponins (0.69mg/100g), tannins (0.0416mg/100g), alkaloids (0.046mg/100g) and flavonoids (0.016mg/100g). Triterpenes and cardiac glycosides were also present in detectable concentrations. In vivo studies on the efficacy of the plant leaves in treatments against fowl cough in Hubbard broilers gave positive results. The leaf extract significantly reduced the mortality rate of the broilers by 25% within 3 weeks of treatment and by 40% in 6 weeks of administration, when the broilers were 13 weeks old. The reduction in mortality coincided with reductions in the microbial loads in the trachea of the sick 7-week old broilers. The number of aerobic bacteria was reduced from 36 x 102 cfu/ml to 8 x 102 cfu/ml of viscera suspension within 3 weeks of administration. Also the number of pleuro-pneumonia like organisms (PPLO) was reduced from to 12 x 102 cfu/ml to 4 x 102 cfu/ml of viscera suspension within 2 weeks, and totally eliminated within 3 weeks of treatment. The in vivo antibacterial potency of the plant extract may be ascribed to the presence of antioxidative compounds like saponins, alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes and cardiac glycosides in the plant leaves.
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