Derivatized Extracts from Aframomium melegueta K. Schum. and Vernonia amygdalina Delile Contain Organic Compounds that Showed Antiviral Effects against Atypical Fowl Pox Virus (FPV Kabete)

Abstract

In this study, we tested for the antiviral potentials of derivatized extracts from two plants Aframomium melegute K. Schum. and Vernonia amygdalina Delile against atypical Fowl pox virus (FPV Kabete). Preliminary study on derivatized extracts from the plants showed that A. melegute extract contain two abundant phenols (benzaldehyde-3-hydroxy-4methoxy and butan-2-one-4-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl) while the V. amygdalina extract contained Phytol and a nucleoside analogue Methyl-2-O-benzyl-d-arabinofuranoside as most abundant compounds. We determined the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of the derivatized extracts against the FPV in Embryonated Chick Eggs (ECEs) and also linked their antiviral properties to the activity of the most abundant compounds they contain. Results showed that the extracts had strong therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy against FPV. Summarily, the extract from A. melegueta had stronger prophylactic efficacy against the FPV with an inhibition concentration (IC50) of 159.49 ± 2.16 µm, it reduced the mortality of embryos (from 21.46 ± 2.31% to 6.89 ± 0.29%), diminished the FPV Log10EID50 titer from 3.86 to 2.78 and its percentage viral reduction index for prophylactic assay was at 91.7%. However, the V. amygdalina extract showed better therapeutic potential with inhibition concentration (IC50) of 179.90 ± 2.74 µm, it strongly reduced the embryo mortality (from 21.46 ± 2.31% to 7.72 ± 0.34%) and the FPV Log10EID50 titer diminished from 3.86 to 3.08 while it had a viral percentage reduction index of 83.4% for the therapeutic assay. This study demonstrated the antiviral efficacy of derivatized extracts from the two test plants against FPV and that compounds contained in the extracts can serve as molecular leads in subsequent study for biosynthesis of novel antipoxvirus inhibitors.