Efficiency of dietary black seed (Nigella sativa) essential oil for incisional skin wound healing in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

This study evaluated the healing effect of black seed essential oil (Nigella sativa; NS) dietary supplementation on skin wound in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Some 48 goldfish were divided into 4 groups, including the control and 3 treatment groups in three replications and kept for study period of 7 days. NS essential oil was added to the basal diet of treatment groups at the concentration of 2% for the NS2 group, 4% for the NS4 group, and 6% for the NS6 group. The control group was fed the basal diet without NS during the experimental period. The 5 mm incision made by scalpel on the right flank of all fishes below the dorsal fin above the lateral line. The fish fed three times a day with assigned diet for a week. Histological investigations approved the effects of NS essential oil on skin wound healing. Diet with 6% concentration of NS6 revealed the improved healing outcomes such as re-epithelialization, muscle regeneration and scale formation rather than NS2 and NS4 groups.