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.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/4/4400/pdf

Honey: A Novel Antioxidant

Honey is a natural substance with many medicinal properties, including antibacterial, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, antioxidant and antihypertensive effects It reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic rats and humans However, the mechanism(s) of its hypoglycemic effect remain(s) unknown Honey comprises many constituents, making it difficult to ascertain which component(s) contribute(s) to its hypoglycemic effect Nevertheless, available evidence indicates that honey consists of predominantly fructose and glucose The objective of this review is to summarize findings which indicate that fructose exerts a hypoglycemic effect The data show that glucose and fructose exert a synergistic effect in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas This synergistic effect might enhance intestinal fructose absorption and/or stimulate insulin secretion The results indicate that fructose enhances hepatic glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis and storage via activation of hepatic glucokinase and glycogen synthase, respectively The data also demonstrate the beneficial effects of fructose on glycemic control, glucose- and appetite-regulating hormones, body weight, food intake, oxidation of carbohydrate and energy expenditure In view of the similarities of these effects of fructose with those of honey, the evidence may support the role of fructose in honey in mediating the hypoglycemic effect of honey

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/2/1900/pdf

Fructose Might Contribute to the Hypoglycemic Effect of Honey

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis and/or maintenance of elevated blood pressure in hypertension. This study investigated the effect of honey on elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It also evaluated the effect of honey on the amelioration of oxidative stress in the kidney of SHR as a possible mechanism of its antihypertensive effect. SHR and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were randomly divided into 2 groups and administered distilled water or honey by oral gavage once daily for 12 weeks. The control SHR had significantly higher SBP and renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels than did control WKY. The mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were significantly downregulated while total antioxidant status (TAS) and activities of GST and catalase (CAT) were higher in the kidney of control SHR. Honey supplementation significantly reduced SBP and MDA levels in SHR. Honey significantly reduced the activities of GST and CAT while it moderately but insignificantly upregulated the Nrf2 mRNA expression level in the kidney of SHR. These results indicate that Nrf2 expression is impaired in the kidney of SHR. Honey supplementation considerably reduces elevated SBP via amelioration of oxidative stress in the kidney of SHR.

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Honey supplementation in spontaneously hypertensive rats elicits antihypertensive effect via amelioration of renal oxidative stress

Summary: Hepatic dysfunction such as elevations of transaminases and alkaline phosphatase is associated with diabetes. We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Malaysian tualang honey in streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg; ip)-induced diabetic rats by measuring serum AST, ALT and ALP activities. Non-diabetic and diabetic rats were administered distilled water or tualang honey orally for four weeks. Serum AST, ALP and ALT activities were significantly (p < 0.01) elevated in diabetic control rats. Tualang honey significantly (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) reduced AST, ALT and ALP activities in diabetic rats. These results suggest that tualang honey may produce hepatoprotective effect in diabetic rats. Industrial relevance: Natural products are generally recognized for their enriched chemical and bioactive constituents which are the main contributors of their biological activities or therapeutic effects. This study provides evidence for hepatoprotective effect of tualang honey in diabetic rats. Considering the increasing prevalence of liver related disorders, most of which are secondary effects of exogenously ingested/administered substances, these results suggest that tualang honey may be effective in the treatment of hepatic damage or perhaps co-administered with other therapeutic agents to minimize their side effects.

Hepatoprotective effect of tualang honey supplementation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Aluminum toxicity might be related to oxidative stress, and the antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread, which contains pollen, honey and bees’ enzymes, on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity was investigated in rats. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of bee bread were conducted. The animal experiment in rats included; group 1: received distilled water (10 ml/kg b.wt), group 2: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt), group 3: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (500 mg/kg b.wt), and group 4: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (750 mg/kg b.wt). Doses were given once daily via a gavage. C-reactive protein, transaminases, urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, sodium and potassium and urine sodium and potassium were determined on day 28 of the experiment. Bee bread contained protein, fat, fiber, ash, carbohydrate, phenol and flavonoids and it exhibited antioxidant activity. Aluminum caused a significant elevation of blood urea, transaminase, C-reactive protein and monocyte count and significantly decreased hemoglobin. These changes were significantly ameliorated by the use of bee bread. Bee bread has an antioxidant property, and exhibited a protective effect on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity and elevation of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, leukocyte and monocyte counts.

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Antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread (honey and pollen) in aluminum-induced anemia, elevation of inflammatory makers and hepato-renal toxicity.

Influence of various diet regimens on deterioration of hepatic function and hematological parameters following carbon tetrachloride: a potential protective role of natural honey.

Mohammad Akmal

Papers

Influence of various diet regimens on deterioration of hepatic function and hematological parameters following carbon tetrachloride: a potential protective role of natural honey.