Apigenin Modulates Cardiorenal Disorders in Cockerel Chickens Experimentally Infected With Newcastle Disease Virus (Kudu 113 Strain)

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of avian species. It spreads easily despite widespread vaccination and remains endemic in the majority of poultry-producing regions of the world. Apigenin, a flavonoid, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumour properties. One-hundred-day-old cockerel chickens were assigned into six groups of 15 each  Group A (control); Group B: ND virus (106.5 per 0.1 mL) only; Groups C & D received 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of apigenin orally in addition to ND (106.5 per 0.1 mL) while groups E and F were administered only apigenin 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively for seven days. Results showed significantly (P<0.05) increased heart rate, PR interval, and QRS complex of the ND-infected group when compared with the control one. There were significant (P<0.05) differences between infected and control groups in lymphocytes, serum K+, blood urea nitrogen and crea¬tinine. The cardiac GSH, GST, GPx, and renal SOD activities increased in the ND-treated group, while MDA and H2O2 signifi-cantly increased in the infected, but ameliorated substantially in the trea¬ted groups. Immunohisto-chemistry revealed increased expression of cardiac troponin and TNF-α in the cardiac tissue, while the higher immune-positivity of ACE-2 and COX-2 in the kidney of the infected chicks were amelio-rated in the treated groups. Therefore, apigenin feed supplementation could protect against ND due to its antioxidant, cardio-renal protective, and immune-boosting properties.