Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) on the immune system of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary essential oils of ginger (Zingiber officinale), black seed (Nigella sativa) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) on the immune system of cultured rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. A total of 360 fish were divided into 4 groups and 3 replicates each containing 30 fish. The fish were fed for 21 days with 1% of the herbal essential oils and with unsupplemented diet as the control group. Haematological and immune parameters including serum lysozyme, number of phagocytic bacteria, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, number of RBC and WBC were studied. Treatments recorded enhancement in immune parameters compared to the control group. Significantly higher serum lysozyme level and phagocytic germs were detected in the groups fed black seed, ginger and cone flower (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC of fish fed the diets containing essential oils and the control group (P>0.05). The results of this study demonstrated that essential oils might strengthen the non-specific immunity of rainbow trout.

The effect of Lavandula officinalis nanoemulsion on growth performance, body composition, haematology and immunity parameters of Oncorhynchus mykiss

“…In case of increase of enzyme activity of lysozyme under different level of LEON similar results was reported by Fadeifard et al (2018) in feeding rainbow trout with essential oils of ginger (Zingiber officinale), black seed (Nigella sativa) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) for 21 days with 1% led to significant enhancement in serum lysozyme. Furthermore, the inclusion of 1% Quercetin and 3% N. sativa oil in a rainbow trout diet led to a significant increase in lysozyme (Awad et al 2013).…”

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“…WBC, LYM, MID, GRAN, MCH, MPW values were higher than the other groups and the difference statistically significant (Table 9). This result is insimilar in WBC in study conducted by Fadeifard et al (2018) who studied Effects of black seed (Nigella sativa), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cone flower (Echinacea angustifolia) on the immune system of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss but similar in haematological parameters including RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC of fish fed the diets containing essential oils and the control group (P>0.05). Furthermore, Talpur (2013) have used Mentha piperita as feed additive in Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch) for enhance growth performance, survival, immune response and disease resistance.…”

Medicinal herbs: The missing link to sustainable aquaculture

“…However, many immunostimulants, despite being effective, are not practical due to several disadvantages, including expensive cost, excessive labour, limited effectiveness upon parenteral administration, etc. [11][12][13][14][15] A variety of herbs are used in aquaculture, including aloe (Aloe vera), 16 cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), 17 garlic (Allium sativum), [18][19][20] ginger (Zingiber officinale), [21][22][23][24] and peppermint (Mentha piperita). 25 Some studies have also mentioned that combiminig the medicinal plants and adding them to the fish's diet promote the immune system and antioxidant defence of the cultured fish.…”