Effect of honey on the body weight of glibenclamide treated alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Abstract

Aim/ Background: One of the classical features of diabetes mellitus is weight loss which may become excessive in some cases. This basically results from muscle wasting due to increased catabolism of proteins. The commonly used antidiabetic drug; glibenclamide may not effectively prevent the excessive weight loss experienced by some diabetics. This is the reason why some complain of even extreme weight loss while on medication. Thus addition of a natural product with the potential to prevent excessive weight loss and make diabetics appear healthy while on treatment may be necessary. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of honey on the body weight of glibenclamide treated alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: This study was carried out between September and October, 2015. A total of 20 male wistar rats weighing 200-250g were grouped into four with 5 rats in each group. Diabetes mellitus was induced in all the rats by intraperitoneally injecting 2% alloxan solution as 200mg/kg body weight. Each rat was weighed before and after the experiment and recorded accordingly. The animals received respectively oral administration of the following: Group one; 5.0ml/kg/day of distilled water, Group two; 5.0ml/kg/day of 50% honey, Group three; 5.0ml/kg/day of 50% honey together with 0.6mg/kg/day of glibenclamide, Group 4; glibenclamide alone (0.6mg/kg/day). The animals were treated for 4weeks. Results: There was significant increase in the mean final weight of the honey treated group compared to their initial weight. Conversely, significant mean weight reduction was noted for rats treated with glibenclamide alone. However, when honey was added to glibenclamide treatment, the weight loss was minimized. Conclusion: The present study showed that addition of honey to glibenclamide in the treatment of alloxan diabetic rats significantly improved the body weight compared to when the drug was administered alone. The study suggests that glibenclamide has a limited capability to stimulate the already damaged beta cells to stimulate insulin. However, when given together with honey, its anti-oxidant components may have prevented excessive protein catabolism. There could also be possible honey-induced pancreatic beta cell regeneration.

Organic Honey from the Middle Atlas of Morocco: Physicochemical Parameters, Antioxidant Properties, Pollen Spectra, and Sugar Profiles

“…Pasupuleti and coworkers documented that the fructose contained in honey improved hyperglycemia in experimental diabetic animals and diabetic patients [ 6 ]. Likewise, dietary fructose has been found to improve glycemic status by enhancing glucokinase activity and thereby catalyzing the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and increasing hepatic glucose uptake (storage of glucose as glycogen by the liver tissue) [ 79 ]. For that, besides phenolic compounds and many other macro/microantioxidant nutrients, fructose-rich honey might be at least useful to enhance human physiological abilities and prevent several metabolic disorders, including diabetes.…”

Exploring the Palynological, Chemical, and Bioactive Properties of Non-Studied Bee Pollen and Honey from Morocco

“…In addition to its impact on the physical state and sensory characteristics of honey, the F/G ratio continues to be a crucial variable that condition or even restricts the use of honey in many critical physiological situations, such as glucose and lipid metabolic dysfunctions. Previous scientific data documented that fructose contained in honey decreased markedly the fasting blood glucose level in diabetic rat models and improve the lipid status of diabetes patients [56,57]. For that, in addition to antioxidant molecules and many other bio-valuable micro/macronutrients, fructose-rich honey might be at least useful to enhance human physiological abilities and prevents several metabolic disorders including dyslipidemia and diabetes.…”

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

“…Therefore, there is renewed interest in health benefits of honey as well as believe of the efficacious, safer, relatively fewer side effects and reduction in its cost effectiveness treatment. So, we have extended our previous studies (15,16) to show the effect of long-term dietary honey on kidney function and lipid metabolism in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats, for better understanding of the medicinal properties of Niger Delta honey.…”

“…Little is currently known about the potential medicinal beneficial effects of natural honey from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In our previous study, we reported that honey administered groups adopted in the study of the alloxan diabetic models gave positive results according to the parameters studied [15,16]. Therefore, there is renewed interest in health benefits of honey as well as believe of the efficacious, safer, relatively fewer side effects and reduction in its cost effectiveness treatment.…”