ABSTRACT
There is increasing evidence to support the health benefits of natural honey. However, its use in the dietary management of diabetes mellitus is still evolving. The present study was aimed at investigating the long-term effects of Nigerian honey of Niger Delta origin on alloxan induced renal and serum lipid dysfunctions in diabetic wistarrats. Four groups of adult male wistarrats were used; 8 rats each. The first group received no honeybut were given salineand served as normal control.Group II werenon-diabetic and received honey solution (50% v/v) at a dose of 10ml/kg body weight/day.Diabetes was induced in groups III and IV by intra-peritonealadministration of 200mg/kg alloxan solution. Group III served as diabetic control. Group IV received a honeysolution. At the end of 56 days, lipid profile and renal function were assessed. Also, atherogenicindex was calculated. Results obtained revealed alloxan induceddiabetic renal dysfunction, as reflected by up-regulated kidney function parameters–urea, creatinine, and a decrease in sodium, and bicarbonate, levels while a non-significant difference between potassiumin diabetic control and diabetic treated. Regardingserum lipid, there was up-regulated total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-densitylipoprotein, atherogenic index and decreased high-densitylipoprotein levels. Therefore, oral administrationof honey diminished the deleterious effects of alloxan-induceddiabetes on renal function and improved lipid profile parameters. We conclude that Niger Delta honey has the potential medicinal properties to protect against alloxan inducedrenal dysfunction and hyperlipedemiain diabetic male wistarrats.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition that develops when the body fails to produce enough insulin or when insulin fails to work properly, is a global health problem. This study was conducted to evaluate the metabolic effect of eight-week administration of Niger Delta honey on the blood glucose, haematological parameters, body weight and glycosylated haemoglobin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Six groups of 8 rats each were used. Group I served as control; Group II was given 10ml/kg/day of the honey solution;Group III served as diabetic control; Group IV diabetic rats received 10ml/kg/day of the honey solution. Group V diabetic rats were givena single daily dose of 0.6 mg/kg glibenclamide. Group VI were treated with both glibenclamideand honey concurrently.The present study showed that honey significantly (p<0.05) improved blood cells and indices, body weight but caused marked decrease in blood glucose levels as well asglycosylated haemoglobinin alloxan diabetic rats. Furthermore, honey caused a further reduction in blood glucose levels when used in combination with glibenclamide. In conclusion, the result of the present study suggests that honey might prevent alloxan-induced anaemia, immune-disturbances,thrombocytopenia, weight loss and hyperglycaemia. These effects are probably due to its additive mechanisms on the haematopoietic systems and on glucose metabolism. Therefore honey might be a cost-effective aspect of dietary management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Additionally, honey and glibenclamide combined may offer additional beneficial effects in alloxan –induced diabetes by synergic mechanisms on glucose metabolism and by further improvement in the vascular integrity