International Journal of Poultry Science
1682-8356
1994-7992
Asian Network for Scientific Information
10.3923/ijps.2006.574.578
Nigella sativa)]]>
Bagir
Nabiela M. El
Hama
Aziza Y.
Hamed
Rania M.
Rahim
Ahmed G. Abd El
Beynen
Anton C.
6
2006
5
6
Laying hens were fed diets
without or with 10 or 30 g of the whole seed of black cumin (Nigella
sativa)/kg. The concentrations of total lipids, total cholesterol,
phospholipids and triacylglycerols in serum and egg yolk were measured.
Feeding of the diets with 1 and 3% black cumin seeds for a period of
three months reduced egg yolk total cholesterol by 34 and 42%, respectively.
Serum cholesterol concentrations averaged for the whole feeding period
were lowered by 15 and 23% after feeding the diets with 1 and 3% black
cumin seeds, respectively. Black cumin seeds in the diet of laying hens
also caused a lowering of serum and egg-yolk concentrations of triacylglycerols
and phospholipids. Inclusion of black cumin seeds in the diet caused
a significant reduction in egg production, without any effect on egg
width and length, while there was a significant increase in hen`s body
weight. The increase in body weight in the hens fed black cumin seeds
is explained by the ingested feed energy not used for egg production.
It is concluded that black cumin seeds and/or the active principle are
of interest as potential egg-yolk cholesterol-lowering agents.]]>