Protective effect of natural honey against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The protective effects of natural honey against acetic acid-induced colitis were investigated in rats.


METHODS
Honey and glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose mixture were administered, orally and rectally, daily for a period of 4 days. Induction of colitis was done on the third day using 3% acetic acid. Animals were killed on day 4 two hours after administration of the dose and colonic biopsies were taken for macroscopic scoring, histopathological and biochemical studies.


RESULTS
Honey dose-dependently afforded protection against acetic acid-induced colonic damage. There was almost 100% protection with the highest dose (5 g/kg) used while glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose mixture produced no significant protective effect. Also, honey prevented the depletion of the antioxidant enzymes reduced glutathione and catalase and restored the lipid peroxide malondialdehyde towards normal levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are required to explore the active ingredients responsible for the antioxidant effect of honey and its therapeutic potential in humans.
Mahgoub
A A
AA
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
el-Medany
A H
AH
Hagar
H H
HH
Sabah
D M
DM
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000517:prevention & control; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D006722:Honey; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D019342:Acetic Acid