Journal of Ethnopharmacology 79 (2002) 299 – 304 Evaluation of the efficacy of the crude extract of Aloe secundiflora in chickens experimentally infected with Newcastle disease virus R.K. Waihenya a , M.M.A. Mtambo b, *, G. Nkwengulila a a Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, Uniersity of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania b Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine Uniersity of Agriculture, PO Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania Accepted 18 October 2001 Abstract Two replicate experiments were carried out to verify the efficacy of Aloe species (Aloaceae) as used for the control of Newcastle disease (ND) in rural poultry in free-range systems among several communities in Tanzania. Four months old local chickens free of Newcastle disease antibodies were used. Following inoculation with ND virus, body weights, clinical signs, antibody levels and mortality were monitored. Results showed that there was reduced mortality rate and the severity of clinical signs during the acute phase of the infection in Aloe treated chickens compared with the non-treated ones. However, there was no significant effect of the Aloe on the antibody levels that were attributed to the recovery of the surviving chickens. The findings of this study suggest that Aloe secundiflora could be a potential candidate on the management of Newcastle disease in chickens. Further studies are in progress to identify the active ingredients of A. secundiflora against Newcastle disease virus. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Aloe secundiflora ; Aloaceae; Newcastle disease; Ethnoveterinary medicine www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharm 1. Introduction Newcastle disease (ND) is a major constraint in rural chickens production (Chabeuf, 1990). Control measures employed against poultry diseases generally include vaccination, chemotherapy and good husbandry that are significantly practised in commercial poultry. In rural areas usually low inputs are used for poultry in terms of modern veterinary care and animal husbandry. Herbal preparations are frequently used in the man- agement of diseases of chickens in rural areas (Minja, 1989; Bizimana, 1994; Agbede et al., 1995; ITDG and IIRR, 1996). In Tanzania, stems of Euphorbia cande - labrum, (Euphorbiaceae) fruits of Capsicum annum (Solanaceae) and Iboza multiflora (Liliaceae) have been used against ND (Minja, 1989). In Senegal, barks of Azardirachta indica (neem) have been used for a variety of chicken diseases (Agbede et al., 1995). Rangenekar and Rangenekar (1999) reported that Tinospora cordy - lobia (a creeper plant) has been used against ND in India. In Kenya, Aloe species have been used exten- sively to alleviate symptoms of a number of chicken diseases including ND (ITDG and IIRR, 1996). In Malawi, Kambewa et al. (1997) also reported the use of Aloe nutii against Newcastle disease. Aloe excelsa has been used specifically for fowl pox while Aloe saponaria is used against enteritis and indigestion in chickens in Zimbabwe (Bizimana, 1994). In Tanzania and Uganda (pers. Comm.) Aloe species have been used against various chicken diseases including ND. Aloe species have been valued since prehistoric times as medicine for the treatment of burns, wound infec- tions and other skin problems. The latest review of Aloe species clearly indicates their antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antiviral and immunomodulatory properties (Reynolds and Dwecks, 1999). However, the use of Aloe species on poultry diseases has so far not been evaluated. The extensive local use of the plant in poultry is indicative that it does play a role in the control of various chicken diseases. It is for this reason that an evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of * Corresponding author. Fax: +255-23-2-604647. E-mail address: madundo@suanet.ac.tz (M.M.A. Mtambo). 0378-8741/02/$ - see front matter © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII:S0378-8741(01)00370-1