Effects of Methanolic and Aqueous Extract of Cucumis metuliferus Fruits on Newcastle Disease in Pullets

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Cucumis metuliferus fruit on the prevention and cure of Newcastle Disease (NCD) in pullets. Ninety (90) pullets were used for the experiment. The pullets were divided into 9 groups, 4 prophylactics, 4 curative and one control group. For prophylactic groups, aqueous extract of the fruit at a concentration of 2.5 g and 5.0 g/litre of water and methanolic extract of the fruit at 75 and 50 mg/litre were given to the pullets ad-libitum for two weeks and then challenged with Newcastle disease virus kudu 113 strain via intra-ocular route while for curative groups, the pullets were challenged with the virus and then treated with the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the fruits at the same concentrations. The results showed that methanolic extract of C. metuliferus at a concentration of 75 mg/l showed superior prophylactic ability recording lower clinical signs, mortality, postmortem lesions, higher antibody titre and higher white blood cell activity and also exhibited very good therapeutic potential. It was thus suggested that methanolic extract of C. metuliferus at 75 mg/l can be recommended for the control of NCD to farmers and that further studies be conducted to isolate the alkaloids of C. metuliferus responsible for these findings.