Marwa Ibrahem Abdel-Haleem Mahmoud
Asst. Professor
Mitigating impact of Glycyrrhiza glabra on virulent Newcastle disease virus challenge in chickens: clinical studies, histopathological alterations and molecular docking.
Veterinary Research Communications • 2026
Publication Information
Authors
Marwa I. Abdel Haleem• Mohamed M. S. Gaballa• Ali H. El-Far• Hanan A. A. Taie• Gehad E. Elshopakey
Keywords
Licorice · Liver and kidney functions · Viral shedding · Oxidative stress · Histopathology · Molecular
docking
Journal
Veterinary Research Communications
Publisher
Not Available
Volume
48
Issue
2
Pages
3823-3845.
publication.type
Local
Paper Link
Not Available
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Background Newcastle disease (ND) is widely regarded as one of the most virulent and destructive viral infections that
create chaos in the poultry industry and cause widespread epidemics and consequentially debilitating economic losses on a
global scale in terms of chicken products. The current experiment evaluates the protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra ( G.
glabra) against the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chickens. Ninety (90) 1-day-old SPF chicks were treated according to
ethical approval (BUFVTM 05-02-22) as follows (1) non-treated non-challenged control group; (2) NDV group: Challenged
with genotype VII ND virus; and (3) LE/NDV group: Challenged with the virus and intermittently treated with powdered
extract of G. glabra roots (LE) in drinking water (0.5 g/L) before and after viral challenge.
Result The water medication of NDV-challenged chicks has resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of clinical
symptoms, morbidity, and mortality rates, as well as the quantity of virus shed, compared with the NDV group. Treatment
with LE has led to a significant reduction in serum ALT and AST activities, blood glucose level, urea, and creatinine, and
significant restoration of serum proteins. In addition, the treatment has resulted in a decrease in MDA and NO levels, as well
as an increase in T-SOD and catalase activities compared with untreated challenged chicks. LE decreased IFN-γ and TLR-3
gene expression in comparison with the NDV group. The treated challenged birds had fewer macroscopically detectable
lesions in their respiratory, digestive, and lymphoid organs than the untreated challenged birds. Microscopically, the LE/
NDV group exhibited mild to moderate pathological changes in the respiratory and digestive systems as well as lymphoid
tissues, in contrast to the NDV group, which exhibited severe pathological changes. Furthermore, molecular docking assessment
proved the efficacy of G. glabra against viral proliferation and invasion.
Conclusion We concluded that Glycyrrhiza glabra powdered extract at a dose of 0.5 g/L drinking water can effectively mitigate
the debilitating effects of Newcastle disease in chickens.
create chaos in the poultry industry and cause widespread epidemics and consequentially debilitating economic losses on a
global scale in terms of chicken products. The current experiment evaluates the protective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra ( G.
glabra) against the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chickens. Ninety (90) 1-day-old SPF chicks were treated according to
ethical approval (BUFVTM 05-02-22) as follows (1) non-treated non-challenged control group; (2) NDV group: Challenged
with genotype VII ND virus; and (3) LE/NDV group: Challenged with the virus and intermittently treated with powdered
extract of G. glabra roots (LE) in drinking water (0.5 g/L) before and after viral challenge.
Result The water medication of NDV-challenged chicks has resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of clinical
symptoms, morbidity, and mortality rates, as well as the quantity of virus shed, compared with the NDV group. Treatment
with LE has led to a significant reduction in serum ALT and AST activities, blood glucose level, urea, and creatinine, and
significant restoration of serum proteins. In addition, the treatment has resulted in a decrease in MDA and NO levels, as well
as an increase in T-SOD and catalase activities compared with untreated challenged chicks. LE decreased IFN-γ and TLR-3
gene expression in comparison with the NDV group. The treated challenged birds had fewer macroscopically detectable
lesions in their respiratory, digestive, and lymphoid organs than the untreated challenged birds. Microscopically, the LE/
NDV group exhibited mild to moderate pathological changes in the respiratory and digestive systems as well as lymphoid
tissues, in contrast to the NDV group, which exhibited severe pathological changes. Furthermore, molecular docking assessment
proved the efficacy of G. glabra against viral proliferation and invasion.
Conclusion We concluded that Glycyrrhiza glabra powdered extract at a dose of 0.5 g/L drinking water can effectively mitigate
the debilitating effects of Newcastle disease in chickens.