Anzer honey prevents N-ethylmaleimide-induced liver damage in rats

Honey vesicle-like nanoparticles protect aged liver from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has emerged as the leading cause of liver failure and related death. Currently, no medication is specifically approved to treat NAFLD or NASH. Here we report that oral administration of honey vesicle-like nanoparticles (H-VLNs) to naturally aged mice protects the liver from NASH development. H-VLNs are dominantly taken up by Kupffer cells in the liver and suppress hepatic chronic inflammation and further development of fibrosis and nodule formation in aged mice. Besides their reported anti-inflammasome function, H-VLNs are found to inhibit the transcriptional activities of C-JUN and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). MicroRNAs miR5119 and miR5108 and phenolic compound luteolin in H-VLNs are identified in suppressing both the C-JUN and NF-κB pathways. Collectively, oral intake of H-VLNs represents a promising new user-friendly modality to prevent the development of NASH.

Chromatographic fractions from Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark boost antioxidant enzyme activity and ameliorate some markers of diabetes complications

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Diabetes, with hyperglycaemia as hallmark, is a global crisis that reduces the antioxidant status and produces complications when poorly managed. The development of complications can be indicated by inflammation, lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of glycation adducts. Thus, the attenuation of hyperglycaemia and boosting of antioxidants status is key in ameliorating markers of diabetes complications. This work evaluated the potency of Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark on some markers of diabetes complications.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

A total of 100 female rats (180.80 ± 8.50 g) were assigned into ten groups of ten animals each; control received 1.0 ml of distilled water while those in groups DC, RD, F1, F3, F4, F5, F7, F9, F10 were induced into diabetes by intraperitoneal administration of 120 mg/kg body weight of alloxan and were orally administered distilled water, glibenclamide, 2.5 mg/kg of the chromatographic fractions 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10 respectively, once daily for 14 days. F7 was profiled for its bioactive constituents and the pancreas histology of the rats were examined.

RESULTS

Chromatographic fractions F5 and F7 significantly decreased fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, atherogenic index, malondialdehyde while insulin, high density lipoprotein, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities significantly increased. Fraction F7 revealed eight compounds and restored the distorted pancreas.

CONCLUSION

Fraction F7 ameliorated the markers of diabetes complications considered in this study better than F5, restored the compromised pancreas and can be explored as lead candidate for production of drug for the management of diabetes.

Hepatoprotective Effects of a Novel Trihoney against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comparative Study with Atorvastatin

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disorder worldwide with no curative therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of a novel Trihoney against biochemical and histological manifestations of NAFLD in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Methodology. Forty-eight male New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were grouped into normal diet (C), normal diet with 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney (C + H), 1% cholesterol diet (HCD), 1% cholesterol diet with 0.3 g/kg/day of Trihoney (HCD + H₁), 1% cholesterol diet with 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney (HCD + H₂), and 1% cholesterol diet with 2 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin (HCD + At.). Animals were sacrificed after 12 weeks of treatment. Serum lipids and liver function test (LFT) were measured prior to and at the endpoint of the experiment for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total bilirubin (T. Bil.). Liver was processed for histopathology study. Liver homogenate was analysed for oxidative stress parameters: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results. Lipid analysis approved the induction of hypercholesterolemia. A significant elevation (p < 0.01) of serum AST and ALT levels showed by the HCD group was compared to C and C + H groups. Trihoney exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of AST and ALT compared to the HCD group. Likewise, AST and ALT reduced significantly in the HCD + At. group (p < 0.001). Trihoney supplementation induced significant (p < 0.05) enhancement of SOD and GPx activities. Atorvastatin treatment was associated with significant (p < 0.05) reduction of SOD and GPx activities in the liver. Trihoney and atorvastatin showed marked (p < 0.001) reduction of hepatic lipid peroxidation. Trihoney showed histological protection against progression of NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Atorvastatin exhibited no beneficial impact on hepatic architecture. Conclusion. Trihoney was able to maintain normal liver function and showed hepatoprotection against progression of NAFLD to NASH probably through hypocholesterolaemic and antioxidant functions.

Morphometric Analysis of the Effects of Manuka Honey on Vasospastic Femoral Arteries in Rats: An Experimental Study

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to determine if Manuka honey, a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, had any effect on the development of vasospasm in an experimental subarachnoidal hemorrhage model constructed in rat femoral arteries.

Methods:

Twenty-four Wistar Albino strain rats were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 was the control group (n=8), Group 2 was the vasospasm group (n=8), and group 3 was the treatment group (n=8). The wall thickness (W) of the femoral arteries and the luminal diameter (L) were measured using morphometric methods. The data were analyzed with statistical software. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare independent groups and Bonferroni post hoc analysis was used for multiple comparison tests. Significance for all of the results was established at p<0.05.

Results:

A statistically significant intergroup difference was detected in the mean L and W (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The mean L value in Group 2 was statistically significantly less than that of Groups 1 and 3, while the mean W value was significantly greater (p<0.001 for all). However, no statistically significant difference was detected between Groups 1 and 3 with respect to the mean L and W values (p=0.064, p=0.954, respectively).

Conclusion:

Manuka honey exerts an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of inflammatory cytokines, including plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and the lipid peroxidation level. This study statistically demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Manuka honey successfully inhibited the development of vasospasm in an experimentally induced vasospasm model in the femoral arteries of rats.

Novel Insights into the Health Importance of Natural Honey

Honey is a sweet, flavourful liquid substance with several beneficial constituents. Extensive research has shown the therapeutic promise of the use of honey in enhancing health values and improving body systems. This manuscript documents the ancient medicinal uses of honey and provides evidence-based data demonstrating its benefits in animal models, patients, and healthy individuals. Several reports by various researchers are discussed regarding health indices and biomarkers used following apitherapy. These include physiological processes in virtually all animal and human organs. The responses of body systems after oral and systemic administration of honey are also mentioned. Honey is also evaluated for its wide acceptability as a complementary and alternative medicine for most ailments. All types of honey exhibit different biochemical activities and show greater variability in their potency as apitherapeutic agents than conventional medicines. The mechanisms of action conferring honey's protective effects, as suggested by various authors, are documented. These entail synergistic interaction of the bioactive physical and chemical constituents of honey to produce the desired beneficial effects. The use of apitherapy in synergy with chemotherapy to manage microbial and cancer ailments is also helpful in reducing drug-induced cytotoxicity. The mechanistic insights into the overall protective, preventive, and therapeutic effects of honey portend the presence of a unique factor, a 'synergistic multiple ingredients factor', designated SMIF.

Protective Effect of Sundarban Honey against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Hepatonephrotoxicity in Rats

Honey, a supersaturated natural product of honey bees, contains complex compounds with antioxidant properties and therefore has a wide a range of applications in both traditional and modern medicine. In the present study, the protective effects of Sundarban honey from Bangladesh against acetaminophen- (APAP-) induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in experimental rats were investigated. Adult male Wistar rats were pretreated with honey (5 g/kg) for 4 weeks, followed by the induction of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity via the oral administration of a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg). Organ damage was confirmed by measuring the elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB), urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological alterations observed in the livers and the kidneys further confirmed oxidative damage to these tissues. Animals pretreated with Sundarban honey showed significantly markedly reduced levels of all of the investigated parameters. In addition, Sundarban honey ameliorated the altered hepatic and renal morphology in APAP-treated rats. Overall, our findings indicate that Sundarban honey protects against APAP-induced acute hepatic and renal damage, which could be attributed to the honey's antioxidant properties.

Restoration of tryptophan hydroxylase functions and serotonin content in the Atlantic croaker hypothalamus by antioxidant treatment during hypoxic stress

Antioxidants are prototypical scavengers of oxygen-free radicals and have been shown to prevent neuroendocrine dysfunction in vertebrates during oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated whether antioxidant treatment can reverse hypoxia-induced down-regulation of hypothalamic tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and serotonergic functions in Atlantic croaker. Hypothalamic neuronal contents of TPH-1 and TPH-2 proteins, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) as well as hypothalamic TPH-1 and TPH-2 mRNA expression and TPH activity were measured in croaker after exposure to hypoxia and treatment with pharmacological agents. Multiple injections of N-ethylmaleimide, a sulfhydryl alkylating agent, caused comparable decreases in hypothalamic TPHs functions and 5-HT contents to that induced by hypoxia exposure (dissolved oxygen: 1.7 mg/L for 4 weeks) which were partially restored by repeated injections with a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-inhibitor and/or vitamin E. Double-labeled immunohistochemical results showed that TPHs and 5-HT neurons were co-expressed with neuronal NOS (nNOS, a neuroenzyme) that catalyzes the production of nitric oxide, a free radical, in hypothalamic neurons. These results suggest that hypoxia-induced impairment of TPH and serotonergic functions are mediated by nNOS and involve the generation of free radicals and a decrease in the antioxidant status. This study provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence of a protective role for an antioxidant in maintaining neural TPHs functions and 5-HT regulation in an aquatic vertebrate during hypoxic stress.

Dietary honey and ginseng protect against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatonephrotoxicity in rats

Liver diseases are amongst the most serious health problems in the world today and hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the world's deadliest cancers. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective effect of sider honey and/or Korean ginseng extract (KGE) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepato-nephrotoxicity in rat. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were allocated into different groups and over a 4-week period, they orally received honey and/or KGE or were treated either with CCl(4) alone (100 mg/kg b.w) or with CCl(4) after a pretreatment period with honey, KGE or a combination of both. Clinical, clinico-pathological and histopathological evaluations were done and CCl(4)-treated groups were compared with rats receiving no treatment and with rats given honey, KGE or a combination of these substances. The results indicated that oral administration of CCl(4) induced severe hepatic and kidney injury associated with oxidative stress. The combined treatment with CCl(4) plus honey and/or KGE resulted in a significant improvement in all evaluated parameters. This improvement was prominent in the group receiving CCl(4) after combined pretreatment with honey and KGE. Animals receiving honey and/or KGE (without CCl(4)-treatment) were comparable to the control untreated group. It could be concluded that honey and KGE protect SD rats against the severe CCl(4)-induced hepatic and renal toxic effects. Our results suggest that the protective activity of honey and KGE may have been related to their antioxidant properties.

Toxicity of cadmium and protective effect of bee honey, vitamins C and B complex

The present work aimed to study the toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) on rabbits' blood indices, as well as the therapeutic effect of the antioxidant agents, vitamins C and B complex and bee honey on Cd intoxicated rabbits. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 3 mg/kg of body weight. The results showed a significant increase in serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine, compared to the control group. In addition, CdCl2 intoxication increased the levels of uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Concerning haematological parameters, the more obvious changes were an increase in mean corpuscular volume and a decrease in white blood cells count, platelets, lymphocytes, heamatocrit, haemoglobin and red blood cells count. Treatment of CdCl2-intoxicated animals with vitamins C and B complex and bee honey showed a decrease in the harmful effects of Cd by restoring haematological and biochemical changes. Bee honey treatment was the most effective in providing recoveries in the altered blood parameters.

Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth

The use of natural honey (NH) as a nutraceutical agent is associated with nutritional benefits and therapeutic promises. NH is widely accepted as food and medicine by all generations, traditions and civilizations, both ancient and modern. The nutritional profiles, including its use in infant and children feeding reported in different literatures as well as health indices and biomarkers observed by various researchers are illustrated in this manuscript. The review documents folk medicine, experimentation with animal models, and orthodox medical practices shown by clinical trials. This covers virtually all human organs and body systems extensively studied by different workers. The sources and adverse effects of NH contamination, as well as the preventive methods are identified. This could promote the availability of residue free honey and a wholesome natural product for domestic consumption and international market. This could also help to prevent health problems associated with NH poisoning. In addition, apicultural practices and the economic importance of honey are well documented. This report also includes information about a relatively unknown and uncommon South American stingless bee species. We concluded this review by identifying important roles for Ethno-entomologists, other Scientists and Apiculturists in the development of stingless bees to boost honey production, consumption and economic earnings.

Honey: a novel antioxidant

The global prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease is on the rise. These diseases, which constitute the major causes of death globally, are associated with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is defined as an "imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, potentially leading to damage". Individuals with chronic diseases are more susceptible to oxidative stress and damage because they have elevated levels of oxidants and/or reduced antioxidants. This, therefore, necessitates supplementation with antioxidants so as to delay, prevent or remove oxidative damage. Honey is a natural substance with many medicinal effects such as antibacterial, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, reproductive, antihypertensive and antioxidant effects. This review presents findings that indicate honey may ameliorate oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver, pancreas, kidney, reproductive organs and plasma/serum. Besides, the review highlights data that demonstrate the synergistic antioxidant effect of honey and antidiabetic drugs in the pancreas, kidney and serum of diabetic rats. These data suggest that honey, administered alone or in combination with conventional therapy, might be a novel antioxidant in the management of chronic diseases commonly associated with oxidative stress. In view of the fact that the majority of these data emanate from animal studies, there is an urgent need to investigate this antioxidant effect of honey in human subjects with chronic or degenerative diseases.