Role of Nigella seeds in improving poultry nutrition, production, product quality, gut microbiota and health

SUMMARYPoultry has great potential to meet future food demand quickly and efficiently. Natural feed additives have gained increasing attention in poultry nutrition because they can improve productivity, animal health, and product quality. Herbal additives, including N. sativa, have beneficial effects on digestion, nutrient absorption, gut microbiota control, immunity modulation (healthy cell promotion), antioxidant activity related to poultry products, reduced consumption or exposure to medication, balance between different types of bacteria in the gut environment, and animal responses towards living organisms. N. sativa (black cumin or black seed) contains several bioactive compounds, including thymoquinone, flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential fatty acids. Its biological activities have been extensively investigated, including its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immune-stimulating properties, as well as its immunomodulatory and blood sugar-lowering activities. Studies on poultry have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with N. sativa may improve growth performance, feed efficiency, egg and meat quality, antioxidant status, immune response, and gut microbiota composition in poultry. This review summarises the current knowledge regarding the nutritional composition, biological activities, mechanistic effects, and practical applications of N. sativa and its derivatives in poultry nutrition. Collectively, N. sativa represents a promising phytogenic feed additive that can support the sustainability of the poultry industry by enhancing nutrition, gut microbiota balance, productivity, product quality, and public health while potentially mitigating dependence on antibiotics and synthetic additives.