US EPA

3561080 

Journal Article 

The seeds of Nigella sativa as a feed additive to male layer-type chicks: lack of hepato- and nephrotoxicity and failure of immunomodulation following vaccinations with paramyxovirus types 2 and 3 and only minor efficacy on spontaneous Eimeria tenella coccidiosis 

El-Sayed, A; Jager, J; Bonner, BM; Redmann, T; Kaleta, EF 

2005 

Yes 

Archiv fuer Gefluegelkunde
ISSN: 0003-9098 

69 

1 

27-34 

WOS:000228653500006 

According to the literature, the seeds of the Mediterranian herb Nigella sativa (N. s.) contains thymolhydroquinone and volatile oil in pharmacologically effective amounts. Feeding of four weeks old chicks with Nigella sativa seeds in concentrations of 0, 1, 3 or 10 % yielded no differences of blood plasma chemistry values which are indicative of liver and kidney functions. Body mass were higher in chicks receiving N. s. seeds than control birds. The experimental vaccinations with formol-inactivated, aluminium-hydroxide adjuvanted paramyxovirus type 2 (PMV-2) and paramyxovirus type 3 (PMV-3) vaccines induced no significant differences in mean antibody titres as measured in the haemagglutination inhibition test. Feeding of N. s. seeds could not prevent clinical signs of coccidiosis and shedding of oocysts; following an accidental infection of the experimental chicks with Eimeria tenella oocysts. The recovery of chicks from a spontaneous coccidiosis appeared to be slightly faster in chicks receiving silmultaneously sulfaclozine-sodium and the seeds as compared to the untreated chicks. It is concluded that chicks of the layer type react much less pronounced on the ingredients of N. s. seeds than mammals do. 

Nigella sativa; black cumin; behaviour; blood chemistry values; paramyxovirus type 2 and type 3; spontaneous coccidiosis