Antioxidant and Antitussive Properties of Gongronema latifolium Leaves Used Locally for the Treatment of Fowl Cough in Nigeria

The antioxidant and antitussive properties of Gongronema latifolium used locally byNigerian poultry farmers for the treatment of fowl cough was investigated. The phytochemical resultsrevealed the presence of saponins (0.69mg/100g), tannins (0.0416mg/100g), alkaloids (0.046mg/100g) andflavonoids (0.016mg/100g). Triterpenes and cardiac glycosides were also present in detectableconcentrations. 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.