Haemato-Biochemical Responses of Growing Pigs to Dietary Inclusion of a Curcuma longa and Nigella sativa Powder Blend

Abstract

This study evaluated the safety profile, erythroid stability, and metabolic responses of growing crossbred (Duroc × Landrace) pigs fed dietary levels of a 1:1 mixture of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome and black seed (Nigella sativa) powder. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted using 50 growing gilts assigned to five dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (5 replicate pens per treatment, 2 pigs per pen). Dietary treatments comprised a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0 g/kg (T1, Control), 50 g/kg (T2), 100 g/kg (T3), 150 g/kg (T4), and 200 g/kg (T5) of the 1:1 turmeric/black seed powder blend. At Day 60, blood samples were collected from 5 pigs per treatment (1 pig per pen) to measure hematological parameters (RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC) and serum biochemical markers (ALT, AST, Uric acid, Creatinine, Total Protein, Albumin, and Globulin). Red blood cell (3.02 – 5.05 ×106/L), Pack cell volume (30.18 –33.63 %), and Haemoglobin (9.28 – 11.22 g/dL), White blood cell (11.85 – 16.72 (109/L), Mean corpuscular volume (50.63 – 69.05 fl), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (29.81 – 38.09 pg) and Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (23.48 - 30.96 %) remained within standard reference intervals across all dietary groups (P>0.05), confirming that high inclusion of plant secondary metabolites did not induce anemia or erythrocyte hemolysis. Hepatic injury enzymes (Aspartate Aminotransferase: 140.8 – 149.6 U/L; Alanine Aminotransferase: 28.11 – 29.93 U/L; Alkaline phosphatase: 51.24 – 56.22 U/L) and renal clearance markers (Uric acid: 4.17 –4.76 mg/dL; Creatinine: 2.26 – 2.35 mg/dL) remained within normal physiological limits (P>0.05), confirming hepatic parenchymal and renal glomerular integrity. Serum Globulin (35.78 – 42.05 g/L) showed an increase (P<0.05) toward T5, elevating Total Protein (68.89 – 82.79 g/L) and improving the Albumin-to-Globulin ratio without causing hepatic metabolic stress. Dietary inclusion of a 1:1 turmeric and black seed powder blended up to 200 g/kg (20% inclusion level) preserves liver and kidney functions, and enhances serum immune proteins in growing swine.