Nephroprotective and Antihyperlipedemic Activity of Honey in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

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.