Oral Administration of Tualang and Manuka Honeys Modulates Breast Cancer Progression in Sprague‐Dawley Rats Model

Abstract

Breast cancer has been recognized as the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Research has shown the importance of complementary and alternative therapies in cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumoural therapeutic effects of Malaysian Tualang honey (TH) and Australian/New Zealand Manuka honey (MH) against breast cancer in rats. Thirty syngeneic virgin female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced by the carcinogen 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) 80 mg/kg. The treatment started when first palpable tumour reached 10–12 mm in size by dividing rats into following groups: Group 0 (negative control); Group 1 (positive control); and Groups 2 and 3 which received 1.0 g/kg body weight/day of TH and MH, respectively, for 120 days. The data demonstrate that cancer masses in TH and MH treated groups showed a lower median tumour size, weight, and multiplicity compared with the nontreated positive control (p < 0.05). Treatment also showed a dramatic slower growth rate (up to 70.82%) compared with the nontreated control (0%) (p < 0.05). The antitumoural effect was mediated through modulation of tumour growth, tumour grading, estrogenic activity, and haematological parameters. Our findings demonstrate that systemic administration of TH and MH increases the susceptibility of expression of proapoptotic proteins (Apaf-1, Caspase-9, IFN-γ, IFNGR1, and p53) and decreases the expression of antiapoptotic proteins (TNF-α, COX-2, and Bcl-xL 1) in its mechanism of action. This highlights a potential novel role for TH and MH in alleviating breast cancer.

Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Benefits: A Review

“…It was demonstrated a reduction of tumor growth, tumor grading, estrogenic activity, and hematological parameters. In addition, an increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Caspase 9 and p53, and the involvement of some proteins of the inflammation pathway, such as TNF-α and COX-2 have been demonstrated [ 72 ].…”

Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action

“…It ameliorated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway through upregulation of the expression of proapoptotic proteins such as caspase-9, APAF-1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), p53, IFN- γ (interferon gamma), and IFNGR1 (interferon gamma receptor 1). Concomitantly, honey was found to downregulate the expression of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-xL (B-cell lymphoma extra large), TNF- α , COX-2, E2 (estrogen), and ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) [ 149 , 150 ]. It was also demonstrated that honey alone induces intrinsic or caspase-9 apoptotic pathway with no evidence of the involvement of extrinsic or caspase-8 pathway [ 149 , 150 ].…”

“…Concomitantly, honey was found to downregulate the expression of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-xL (B-cell lymphoma extra large), TNF- α , COX-2, E2 (estrogen), and ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) [ 149 , 150 ]. It was also demonstrated that honey alone induces intrinsic or caspase-9 apoptotic pathway with no evidence of the involvement of extrinsic or caspase-8 pathway [ 149 , 150 ]. Flavonoids and phenolic contents of honey have been encountered to occlude the cell cycle of glioma [ 145 ], melanoma [ 146 ], colon [ 40 ], and cancer cell lines in G0/G1 phase.…”

“…Treatment with honey (0.2, 1.0, and 2.0 kg/kg) showed a potentiating effect on haematological parameters such as Hb, RBC, PCV, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. It also showed an increasing effect on IFN- γ and IFNGR1 at serum and cancer tissue level in rats induced with breast cancer [ 149 , 150 ]. Honey, when tested using concentration 1.2 g/kg body weight, was found to increase the antioxidant agents (vitamin C and β -carotene), monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, serum iron and copper, glutathione reductase, and trace elements (Zn and Mg) in healthy human subjects.…”

Pattern of Histopathological Alterations in N-methyl-N-Nitrosourea (MNU) Induced Breast Cancer in Female Sprague Dawley (SD) Rats Treated with Crude Honey

“…28 (4): 1549-1558(2020 histopathological changes with underlying pathological processes helps to interpret the results accurately. Study shows that crude form of Tualang Honey (TH) and Manuka honey (MH) have a significant anticancer effect on breast cancer SD rat model (Ahmed et al, 2017). Our present study has been designed for the first time to do a detail analysis and comparison of the pattern of histological alterations in honey-treated MNU induced breast cancer in female SD rats with that of the non-treated ones.…”