Department of Animal and poultry production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Damanhour, Egypt
Abstract
The present study targets to look deep at the influence of Nigella sativa seeds (NSS) supplementation on hematological, blood biochemical measurements, liver and kidney functions and antioxidant enzymes of Arbor Acres broiler chicks. A total of 140 unsexed one day old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups during the period from 1-35 days of age. The chicks were randomly assigned in a straight run experimental design among four treatments, each replicated 7 times with 5 unsexed chicks per replicate. The 1st group was fed a commercial basal diet without any supplementation (control), the 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were fed control diet supplemented with NSS at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% levels. Chicks fed basal diet and basal diet without supplementation or with 1.5% NSS had significantly higher RBCs than the 0.5 and 1% NSS supplemented groups. Chicks fed the NSS at 0.5% showed a higher plasma albumin level than the control group, 1 and 1.5 NSS groups. Feeding diet supplemented with 1% NSS had significantly (P≤0.05) achieved the lowest triglyceride and cholesterol compared with chicks fed diet that contained 0.5 and 1.5% NS seeds groups. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was recorded in chick fed diet that contained 1.5% NSS compared with the control and the other treatments. Chicks fed diet that contained 1% NSS had significantly (P≤0.05) achieved a lower plasma aspartate amino transferase (AST). All of supplementation with different NSS levels had a significantly (P≤0.05) higher plasma creatinine and lower plasma urea to creatinine ratio than the control group. Chicks fed diet contained 0.5% NSS had significantly (P≤0.05) achieved a higher plasma superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity compared with the control, 1 and 1.5% NSS supplemented groups. Chicks fed the diet containing 1% NSS showed higher plasma glutathione level than the control group, 0.5 and 1.5% NSS groups. Feeding diet with supplemented 0.5 and 1.5% NSS were significantly (P≤0.05) increased plasma glutathione reductase and catalase compared with the control and 1% NSS groups. Conclusion: These findings indicated that NSS had improved lipid profile, liver function and antioxidant profile of broiler chicks. Thus, 1% NSS is considered safe due to having no acute toxic side effects as reported through the experimental period.
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