Anti-Newcastle disease virus effects of Echinacea Purpurea formula in vitro and in vivo

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most endangering diseases to poultry industry. Appropriate drug therapy is necessary. In present study, effects of Echinacea Purpurea (EP), Qingjie Compound (QC), and Echinacea Purpurea Compound formula (EPQC) on Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were investigated using chicken embryonic fibroblasts cells (CEF) in vitro and by NDV-infected chicken model in vivo. The results indicated EP, QC and EPQC showed anti-NDV effects in vitro and the in vivo results suggested they had the good protective and therapeutic effects on ND birds. The QC and EPQC effects were better than EP alone and the EPQC effects were more significant than the QC which suggesting EP may play a good role in the EPQC. This study may prove the EPQC to be a novel and effective therapeutic alternative in the treatment of ND.