Antimicrobial and antihelminthic impacts of black cumin, pawpaw and mustard seeds in livestock production and health

Abstract

The resistance of microbial strain to the use of medically important antibiotics, high cost of production, and the resistance of ecto and endoparasite to anthelminthic and acaricidal is a cause for concern. There has been intensified effort in search for alternatives to synthetic drugs. Such alternative must be able to kill, reduce, or inhibit pathogenic microbial population while improving the commensal microbes’. Black cumin (Nigella sativa Linn.), pawpaw (Carica papaya Linn.) and mustard (Brassica nigra Linn.) seeds fit into those categories. The antimicrobial functions of black seeds, is preventing the formation of biofilm among microbial strain. The glucosinolate compound in it could be degraded in 48 h by incubating it with fungi (Aspergillus sp. NR-4201) strain. Similarly, Enterobacter cloacae is capable of degrading benzyl isothiocyanate content of mustard. The 15% inclusion of mustard oil in vitro was capable of reducing methane formation. Sinapine a derivative of mustard is cable of enhancing the growth of some microbes except Escherichia coli and thus a potential probiotics. Pawpaw seed is very potent in their control of wide range of ecto and endo parasites. However, seeds of black cumin, pawpaw and mustard might be incorporated into livestock nutrition.