Abstract
Aim: To investigate the antiviral property of flavonoids from Cucumis metuliferus fruit pulp in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells and embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) induced with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Study Design: Extraction and administration of bioactive extract. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, University of Jos, Nigeria and Virology Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria between June, 2011 and August, 2011. Methodology: The CEF cells were first exposed to 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.563, 0.782, 0.391 and 0.195 mg/ml of the sterile flavonoids to test for cytotoxicity and the cells monitored visually daily using a light microscope for evidence of cytopathic effects at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Toxicity of flavonoids in embryonated eggs and antiviral assay for flavonoids using IBDV were then carried out. Hemagglutination test for antigenicity of the virus was also performed to confirm antiviral activity. Results: The flavonoids (100 to 0.195 mg/ml concentrations) were not cytopathic when exposed to CEF cells. After 24 and 48 hours, all the embryonated eggs died at 100 and 50 mg/ml of the flavonoids respectively, but mortalities were not recorded at other concentrations of the flavonoids. Concentrations of the flavonoids at 100, 50, 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/ml were found to be toxic against IBDV, but viral replication was not inhibited from flavonoids concentrations of 3.125, 1.563, 0.782, 0.391 and 0.195 mg/ml. Conclusion: This investigation revealed that flavonoids from Cucumis metuliferus fruit pulp were relatively safe in chickens and possess antiviral activity against IBDV.
Highlights
Viral infections are currently an important health issue that has resulted in extensive research to find drugs that are highly effective
Cell cultures exposed to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and treated with flavonoids showed cytopathic effects at 0.195-3.125 mg/ml, with no effects observed at higher concentrations of 6.25-100 mg/ml (Table 2)
Cytopathic effects which were observed in the positive control administered IBDV were absent in the group administered the flavonoids only
Summary
Viral infections are currently an important health issue that has resulted in extensive research to find drugs that are highly effective It is a well-established fact that medicinal plants and some vegetables like carrots, apple, onions, citrus and tomato contain phytochemicals which have antiviral activity that can help the body fight viral infections [1] [2]. Some of these infections can occur by breathing air contaminated with a virus (for example swine flu- caused by H1N1 virus), by sharing eating utensils, needles, razors, other sharp objects [3]. The global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in poultry, wild birds and humans, still poses a significant pandemic threat and a serious public health risk [7]
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