The protectivity of the natural honey has been assessed against the toxicity of Doxorubicin (DOX) in liver tissues of 106 male Albino mice Mus musculus strain weighing 37 ± 3 gm. The body and liver weights, morphological behavior changes, liver function and pathological effects on liver were recorded. Toxicity study of DOX showed that the LD 50 and LD were 20 and 30 mg/Kg, respectively. Intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection of DOX induced significant (p ≤ 0.01 -0.001) pathological changes in the health, i.e. general weakness, a few morphological changes associated with bleedings, ulceration of skin, hair loss, dimorphism of limbs and bosselation. Daily ingestion of natural honey for seven weeks has led to significant (p ≤ 0.01 -0.001) improvement of these symptoms which appeared as increases in both body and liver weights in comparison with control animals. The natural honey had enhanced the function of liver in treated animals with DOX + honey and reduced the pathological effects of DOX on the above morphological symptoms as well as in the hepatocytes. It is concluded that the ingestion of natural honey has a protective potency against the toxic effects of DOX.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most important cytotoxic drugs in cancer chemotherapy. However, it causes pathological effects on many organs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective effect of honey. Albino mice of MF1 (mus musculus) strain weighting 37±3 g were obtained from king Fahd medical research center. Mice body and liver weight , morphological and behavior changes as well as liver function and pathological effects on liver were recorded. Administration of DOX to mice induced weakness in general activities of animals with several morphological changes during experiment such as bleeding, ulcerations, dermatitis, alopecia, abnormal limbs, and bosselation. Toxicity study of DOX showed that the LD 50 and LD were 20 and 30 mg/kg of DOX, respectively. The results of honey administration to mice reduce pathological symptoms caused DOX as indicates by body weights and liver, which were higher than that of DOX only. In addition, daily administration of honey for seven weeks decreased these histopathological changes, the structure of liver and hepatocytes appearance was more or less similar to control group as well its function. The present results indicate that honey may play an important role as Cytoprotective and pave the way for further studies on the possible use of honey.