<i>In ovo</i> antiviral activity of the constituents of <i>Artabotrys monteiroae</i> and <i>Artabotrys modestus</i> against Infectious Bursal Disease and Newcastle Disease Viruses

Abstract

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) are among the avian pathogenic agents of economic importance affecting both subsistence and commercially produced chickens worldwide. With exception of vaccination, there is no treatment of the diseases caused by these viruses to date. The chemical constituents from the two Tanzanian Artabotrys species, A. monteiroae and A. modestus (Annonaceae) were screened for their antiviral activities against IBDV and NDV in ovo (in the egg). The nine-day-old embryonated eggs in a set of five were used for testing antiviral efficacy through the allantoic route inoculation assay for each tested compound and controls. For NDV assay, the allantoic fluids from the specimens were further harvested to determine viral infection. Artamonteirine (1) from A. monteiroae and quebrachitol (2) from A. modestus showed significant effective treatment against IBDV. The rest of the tested compounds showed moderate or weak antiviral activity at 360 μg/mL screening concentration. The tested compounds also exhibited in ovo antiviral activity against NDV, showing viral titre reduction at a range of 1:128 - 1:256 in the haemagglutination test, indicating 16 and 8 times viral load decline compared with untreated embryo (positive control; 1:2048). Further studies to determine the mode of action and toxicity of the potent compounds need to be undertaken towards the development of such antiviral agents.

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Keywords: Antiviral, IBDV, NDV, Artabotrys monteiroe, Artabotrys modestus, Annonaceae