Comparative Effect of Phytobiotic, Inorganic Selenium and Nutraceutical Product on Bone Morphology, Muscle Characteristics, and Gut Microflora of Broiler Chickens

The study aimed to determine the potential effects of Moringa oleifera and Nigella sativa leaf extract compared to selenium and nutraceutical administration on tibia bone structure together with muscle characteristics and gut bacterial composition in broiler chickens. The experimental include a total of hundred chicks (a day old chicks) which divided into five different groups A, B, C, D and E containing four replicates and each replica having five birds. Groups A received the basal diet and Groups B, C, D, and E received a basal diet with selenium (0.2 mg/kg), nutraceutical (10g/kg), Moringa oleifera leaf extract (1.25 g/kg), Moringa and Nigella leaf extract (1 g/kg) respectively. Two birds per replicate were slaughtered for the purpose of obtaining complete tibia bones along with muscle tissue and ileum ingesta on day 35. Tissue histomorphometry examinations used paraffin embedding methods and tibia bone measurements required vernier calibration. The microorganisms of the gut microbiome were cultured on MRSA media or on mickony media. Mineral retention analysis was performed with a UV-spectrophotometer. The combination of (1 g/kg) Moringa and Nigella leaf extract in the nutritional supplement affect broiler chickens positively by enhancing their bone morphology, mineral retention, muscle histomorphometry and gut microflora.