The antioxidant and antitussive properties of
Gongronema Latifolium
used locally by
Nigerian poultry farmers for the treatment of fowl cough was investigated. The phytochemical results
revealed the presence of saponins (0.69mg/100g), tannins (0.0416mg/100g), alkaloids (0.046mg/100g) and
flavonoids (0.016mg/100g). Triterpenes and cardiac glycosides were also present in detectable
concentrations. 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 10
2 cfu/ml to 8 x 10
2 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 10
2 cfu/ml to 4 x 10
2 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.
