The possible effect of diets containing Nigella sativa and Thymus vulgaris on blood parameters and some organs structure in rabbit

Abstract

Because of the increasing cost of animal feed ingredients as well as the high demand, especially for the protein supplements, several efforts were carried out to use untraditional feed protein ingredients to participate in facing feed shortage problem and at the same time to decrease feeding costs. Nigella sativa (black cumin) and Thymus vulgaris are the most famous medical plants that have attracted the attention of many investigators for long time. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of a partial replacement of soybean meal in control diet by Nigella sativa and/or Thymus vulgaris on the possible harmful changes in histological structure of some organs and blood parameters in growing New Zealand White rabbits. Blood constituents showed that the percentages of hemoglobin, hematocrate, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and white blood cells (WBCs) count were significantly increased with the presence of black cumin seeds in the diets while WBCs count and the mean corpuscular volume in rabbit blood tends to decrease in Thymus vulgaris diets. Feeding diet supplemented with Nigella sativa increased the plasma total proteins, albumin, globulin, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and decreased total lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides. The use of Nigella sativa alone or either mixture with Thymus vulgaris are good supplements for growing rabbits without any adverse effect on histological structure of liver, kidney and testis in rabbits.

In Vivo Subacute Toxicity and Antidiabetic Effect of Aqueous Extract ofNigella sativa

“…The lipid profile of diabetic animals which are under our study was illustrated by an increase in TG, total cholesterol, and LDL-c, in accordance with the results already advanced by Al-Logmani and Zari [39, 40] on STZ-induced diabetic rats treated by NS oil, and the significant decrease in these same lipid parameters that we observed after administration of AqE.NS followed by the increase of HDL-c, which is also in agreement with the findings of other authors [41–43]. …”

Ultrapathological evaluation of the anticancer effect of blackseed (Nigella sativa) and garlic (Allium sativum) in mice

“…27,28 Histopathologically, the internal organs of the experimental mice of Groups 2 and 3 showed proliferation of the mononuclear phagocytic system with mild degeneration of internal organs. Our results are in agreement with those of Tousson et al, 20 who found Nigella sativa alone or combined with Thymus vulgaris are good supplements for growing rabbits without any adverse effect on histological structure of liver, kidney and testis. Similar findings were described by Salim and Fukushima, 29 and Ali and Blunden, 15 who reported that administration of either Nigella sativa seed extract or its oil revealed no pathological changes in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other organs of rats; the active proliferation of lymphocytes in the white pulp in this study agreed with our hematologic parameters.…”

“…These results are in accordance with those obtained by Nya et al, 9 who recorded increased phagocytic activity and serum lysozyme activity after feeding the garlic component, allicin, for 14 days. Tousson et al, 20 mentioned that the blood constituents of rabbit feed with Nigella sativa showed a significant increase in the percentages of hemoglobin, hematocrit, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and white blood cell (WBC) counts. Majdalawieh et al, 11 reported that aqueous extract of Nigella sativa significantly enhances NK cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor cells, suggesting that the documented anti-tumor effects of Nigella sativa may be, at least in part attributed to its ability to serve as a stimulant of NK anti-tumor activity.…”

Sources and possible mechanisms of action of important phytoconstituents with cardiovascular properties

“…Thymoquinone has been found to be effective as antibacterial, diuretic, immunopotentiator, antiparasitic, antitumor, antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypocholestrolemic, antioxidant (Ebru and Burak, 2008), carminative, lactagogue and antinematode. It is an eicosanoid inhibitor that contributes to its cardioprotective effects (Tousson et al, 2011). It relaxes pulmonary artery by activating potassium channels of the heart (Shafei et al, 2005).…”

“…activates potassium channels of the heart. decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure , positive inotropic (Dehkordi and Kamkhah, 2008;El-Bahai et al, 2009;Shafei et al, 2005;Tousson et al, 2011). (Kwok et al, 2010;Schussler et al, 1995).…”