The therapeutic effects of bee venom on some metabolic and antioxidant parameters associated with HFD‑induced non‑alcoholic fatty liver in rats

Abstract

Abstract. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects of bee venom (BV) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) in rats at different levels. Histological manifestations, hepatic lipid content, liver function tests, glucose homeostasis, lipid abnormalities, adipocytokines, lipid peroxidation, disturbed glutathione and antioxidant enzymes systems and dysregulation of Nrf2 transcription factor were assessed. In the present study, the NAFL rats were subcutaneously treated with BV with different doses (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 mg/kg). The results indicated that BV treatment completely normalized the lipid profile values of NAFL rats. Fasting blood sugar, insulin level and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance significantly decreased. BV treated rats showed a significantly lower level of all liver enzymes and bilirubin. Moreover, BV treatment significantly increased the levels of active nuclear erythroid factor 2 like 2, glutathione (GSH) (total and reduced), GSH/glutathione disulphide ratio and activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase (total and Se-dependent). The level of tumor necrosis factor-α was reduced. Treatment showed correction of adiponectin level, and significant downregulation of hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol. At the histological level, BV improved the architecture of liver cells showing normal sinusoids. It may be concluded that BV may represent an interesting therapeutic alternative for the treatment of NAFL disease.

Protective Effects of Bee Venom against Endotoxemia-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Mice

“…However, these changes were markedly attenuated by the administration of bee venom. These findings are in good agreement with recent studies showing the anti-oxidative effects of bee venom in an animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [ 29 ] and Parkinson’s disease [ 30 ]. In addition, bee venom decreased LPS-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in bovine mammary epithelial cells [ 22 ].…”

Molecular Study on the Potential Protective Effects of Bee Venom against Fructose-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Rats

“…The lipid profile values of serum TG, total lipids, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C were completely normalized by BV treatment in addition to reduced body weight. These results are in agreement with those of Hanafi et al [26]. There was a causative parallel reduction in hepatic contents of both SREBP1c and SREBP2.…”

“…Group 3: Rats received 10% fructose in drinking water and BV, dissolved in saline, (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) 3 times per week [25, 26] during the last 2 weeks of the experiment (7th and 8th weeks).…”

The role of hepatic transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) during the development of experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver: a biochemical and histomorphometric study

“…Our results are in accordance with those reported by Hanafi et al, who showed that the activities of serum transaminases, AST, ALT, and GGT, were significantly increased in NAFLD rats. Also, NAFLD rats demonstrated higher bilirubin values [31]. These significant abnormalities of liver function tests revealed a state of hepatocytes inflammation and slightly damage as indicated by the histological results.…”