This investigation intended to ascertain the Tualang Honey's (TH) spermatoprotective effects on the reproductive system of male rats on a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). The animal study was conducted at the Department of Basic Medical Science, Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were fed with a 12% HCD for 16 weeks. Then, they were divided into four subgroups (group H1, H2, H3, and H4) and continued on the 12% HCD. This was conducted in addition to the administration of distilled water, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.0 g of honey per kg body weight daily, respectively for four weeks. By end of the fourth week, all rats were killed, and blood samples were brought for biochemical analysis as the testis and epididymis were gathered for histology and sperm analysis. All TH supplemented groups showed enormous improvements in the sperm parameters (sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, normal morphology, and viability) in comparison to H1 (P < .001). The higher the TH dosage, the greater the improvements in the normal sperm morphology. In conclusion, the TH supplementation improved the sperm analysis results in the animal model, hence exerting the spermatoprotective effects.

INTRODUCTION: Dyslipidaemia and obesity are two main features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study aimed to investigate the effects of Tualang honey (TH) supplementation on bodyweight, liver weight, and lipid profiles in high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced NASH animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats were given 12% HCD for 16 weeks to induce NASH. These animals were divided into 4 groups; Group 1 (continued HCD), Group 2 (changed to normal diet), Group 3 (normal diet and TH 1.2g/kg) and Group 4 (normal diet and TH 3.0g/kg) for the following 4 weeks. Bodyweight was measured daily. At the end of the study, blood was collected via retro-orbital bleeding and the rats were sacrificed to harvest their liver. RESULTS: The group 4 rats had significantly lower mean final bodyweight than rats in group 1, 2 and 3 (478.0±24.4 vs. 641.5±25.1, 593.8 ±29.3, 552.0±72.9 g, p<0.05). Animals in group 4 were also found to have a significantly lower mean liver weight compared to groups 1 and 2 (12.9±0.9 vs 20.1±2.2, 15.7±1.2 g, p<0.05). In comparison to controls, the mean concentration of total cholesterol was significantly lower in all the other groups and the lowest mean concentration of triglycerides was recorded in group 4 with significant difference when compared to the controls (0.9±0.4 vs 3.6±0.4 mmol/L, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The change from HCD to a normal diet coupled with TH supplementation has been shown to reduce bodyweight, liver weight, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the 12% HCD NASH induced animal models.