Authored by AO Hendawy*
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa seeds and Zingiber officinale powder on blood hematological parameters, biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress markers in pregnant ewes as well as on lambs’ birth weight. Fifteen pregnant crossbred ewes aged 3-5 years old weighing an average of 48.5±2.03 Kg, 8 weeks before expected calving date, were randomly divided into 3 groups: one control and 2 experimental groups. Ewes in the control group were fed basal diet only, while ewes in experimental groups were fed basal diet supplemented with Nigella sativa seeds or Zingiber officinale powder at a concentration of 5 g a day/animal until parturition. Blood samples were withdrawn biweekly until parturition. Counts of white blood cells were lower in Nigella sativa seeds treated animals compared with ewes in other groups. Total protein and glucose levels increased (P < 0.05) in ewes fed herbal plants compared with the control while cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased (P < 0.05) in the treated animals compared with the control. Dietary supplementation with medicinal plants reduced malondialdehyde concentration while total antioxidant capacity increased; however, this increase was not significant (P < 0.05). There was an insignificant improvement in lambs’ birth weight of the treated animals compared with the control group. Use of medicinal plants as feed additive to ewes’ diet may improve blood biochemical parameters and reduce oxidative stress at late gestation period. These effects are likely to enhance animal performance. Larger number of replicates on the tolerance levels of Nigella sativa seeds and Zingiber officinale concentrations in the dietary treatment of ewes should be further studied.
Keywords: Antioxidant; Birth weight; Ewe; Nigella sativa; Zingiber officinale
Introduction
The ban set on antibiotics use to reduce energy loss and enhance productivity in livestock industry forced those concerned with animal production to search for safer and better alternatives [1,2]. In recent years, herbal plants have gained much attention as alternative growth promoters to antibiotic. Various medicinal plants and their extracts have been used as feed additives due to their various health-promoting effects such as being anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and growth-promoting [3-5]. Previous studies have reported that medicinal plants and their extracts may be included in ruminant diets to improve nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, immune function, milk production, and composition [6,7].
Nigella sativa is a small aromatic black seed slightly smaller than the sesame seed. It is commonly known as black seed and belongs to the botanical family of the Ranunculaceae, which grows in countries bordering the Mediterranean basin and other places of similar climates [8-10]. This herb has long been used in traditional medicine due to its amazing pharmacological properties, and it also enjoys a rich historical and religious background [11]. Nigella sativa seeds contain many active components includingthymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone, nigellone, melanthin, nigilline nigelamine, damascenone, p-cymene, and pinene, in addition to a large number of minerals (e.g., calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, cobalt, and zinc) and vitamins such as A, B, C, D and E [12-14]. Seeds of Nigella sativa represent a major source of fixed and essential oils, proteins, saponins, polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Previous reports suggest that thymoquinone (an alkaloid), nigellone (a carbonyl polymer of thymoquinone) and fixed oils are the most active component ingredients in Nigella sativa [8-15]. Nigella sativa seeds have many beneficial properties as antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-asthmatic antihypertensive, antioxidative, antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal and anthelminthic), anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, diuretic, carminative, laxative, antimicrobial and antineoplastic activity [9,16,17].
Zingiber officinale is a rhizome (ginger root) that is widely used as a spice and a herbal remedy for a large number of diseases for many years [18,19]. Zingiber officinale contains several active compounds such as gingerol, gingerdiol, and gingerdione [19]. These compounds possess strong antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti- cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipidemic, antifungal, and anti-stress activities [5,20,21].
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa seeds and Zingiber officinale powder on blood hematological parameters, biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress markers in pregnant ewes as well as lambs birth weight. We hypothesized that ewes supplemented by herbal plants will exhibit better blood parameters and oxidative status compared with the control counterparts.
Materials and Methods
Animals and managements
All procedures were approved by The Ethics of Animal Experiments Committee, Damanhour University. The current study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University located in Al-Bostan. Fifteen pregnant crossbred (Rahmany × Balady) ewes, aged 3-5 years old and weighing an average of 48.5 ± 2.03 Kg, were divided into three groups; one control and two experimental groups. Ewes fed like those in our previous report [7]. Briefly, ewes in all groups were fed a basal diet comprising wheat straw and concentrate feed mixture of 55% yellow corn grain, 20% wheat bran, 12.5% cotton seed meal, 10% soy bean meal, 1% sodium chloride, 1.4% lime stone, and 0.1% avimix mineral mixture. Each 1 kg of avimix mineral mixture (AGRIVET) consisted of manganese sulphate (16.66 g), zinc sulphate (20 g), iron sulphate (10 g), potassium iodide (0.83 g), cobalt chloride (0.17 g), sodium selinite (0.066 g), and calcium carbonate (952.27 g). While the control group fed the basal diet only, the 2 experimental groups received 5 g/h/d of either Nigella sativa seeds or Zingiber officinale powder. Concentrate feed mixture was offered two times a day at a rate of 2.5% of animal weight while wheat straw and water were offered ad libitum. We analyzed wheat straw, concentrated feed mixture, Nigella sativa seeds and Zingiber officinale powder for moisture, ash, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract according to the Official Methods of AOAC [22]. Cell wall constituents were estimated according to the method described by Van Soest [23]. Non fibrous carbohydrates were calculated according to Calsamiglia [24]. (Table 1) presents data resulting from these analyses.
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