Efficacy of Negilla sativa meal in modulating the oxidative stress induced by benzo[a]pyrene exposures in broilers

Abstract

Nigella sativa (Ns) has been employed for thousands of years as a spice and food preservative and commonly used in folk medicine all over the world for the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases and conditions. The aim of the study was as an attempt to investigate the effect of Ns meal on the oxidative stress (OS) following intra-tracheal (IT) administration of an air pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in broiler chickens. At day one of age, chicks were divided into four groups comprising of 24 birds each, as controls, Ns, BaP-only, and BaP with Ns. The antioxidant function of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in RBCs hemolysate and liver tissue homogenate in the group receiving BaP alone demonstrated evidence of OS, and oral supplementation of Ns was significantly reduces these alterations with potent effects seen after 21 to 35 days in treated group which is a key finding from this study. It is concluded that exposure to BaP may exert adverse effects on the erythrocyte and liver antioxidant enzymes of broilers which may increase their susceptibility to disease infection, with a disastrous outcome and oral supplementation of Ns was significantly reduces these effects.