Nigella sativa Seeds and their Derivatives in Poultry Feed

Abstract

The addition of antibiotics to poultry diets caused many cases of antibiotic residues and a large number of pathogens that are resistant to drugs. So there was an urgent need to use alternative medicine. Many studies have assured that Nigella sativa (black cumin) seeds might be an adequate replacement for standard therapeutic procedures like antibiotics in poultry. Nigella sativa plays a significant role in promoting the bird’s health and productivity, besides acting as a natural immunostimulant and antioxidant. The black seed oil contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and in this way, it lowers the total cholesterol content. Due to the high content of bioactive compounds, black cumin is proven to have anticancer effects. The present paper enumerates the natural benefits of Nigella sativa on nutritional and health aspects for poultry.