Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Supplementation in the Diet of Broilers Influences Liver Weight and Its Enzymes

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing black cumin (Nigella sativa) seeds (BCS) in diet on performance, liver weight and enzymes of broilers. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design. Two hundred forty day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were divided into four groups and assigned to four feeding treatments, with four replicates of 15 birds each. Group 1 was considered as a control group where they are given unsupplemented diets. Group 2, 3 and 4 were given diets supplemented with 5, 10 and 15 g/kg of BCS respectively. Birds fed diets not supple-mented with BCS showed no significant effect (P > 0.05) on live weight, feed consumption and organs weight, except to liver followed by 0 g/kg treatment (P < 0.05). Diets supplemented with BCS increased glucose and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared with control group as significantly (P < 0.05). Also, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from broilers fed diets sup-plemented with5 and 10 g/kg BCS was lower than control (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio of bird fed to 5 g/kg BCS in 42 days old was the lowest amount (P < 0.05). The highest and the lowest liver weight percent were also depending to 15 g/kg BCS and control respectively. Overall, this research showed that BCS sup-plemented at the varying levels did not have any negative or positive influences on the growth performance of broiler chickens, although it affected some of the blood parameters.