Phytochemical analysis and in-vitro anti-African swine fever virus activity of extracts and fractions of Ancistrocladus uncinatus, Hutch and Dalziel (Ancistrocladaceae)

BMC Vet Res. 2013 Jun 19:9:120. doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-120.

Abstract

Background: African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious fatal acute haemorrhagic viral disease of pigs currently has no treatment or vaccination protocol and it threatens the pig industry worldwide. Recent outbreaks were managed by farmers with ethnoveterinary preparations with various claims of effectiveness.

Results: We identified 35 compounds using GC-MS protocol and ASF virus (NIG 99) was significantly reduced by some extracts and fractions of the plant. However, the plant was poorly extracted by water and cytotoxicity was found to be a major problem with the use of the plant since its extracts also reduced the primary cells used in the assay.

Conclusion: It is confirmed that the plant has antiviral potentials against ASF virus and farmers' claims seem to have certain degree of veracity, but finding the best means of exploring the potential of the plant while reducing its cytotoxic effect in-vitro and in-vivo will be necessary.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • African Swine Fever / drug therapy*
  • African Swine Fever Virus / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Caryophyllaceae / chemistry*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Phytotherapy / veterinary*
  • Plant Bark / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Plant Stems / chemistry
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Swine

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Plant Extracts