title: Effects of honey on inflammation and nitric oxide production in Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of honey on acute and chronic inflammations and nitric oxide production in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carrageenan, cotton pellet and formaldehyde methods were used in quantifying the anti-inflammatory effect of honey while the effect of honey on nitric oxide (NO) production was investigated by administering NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneously) and L-arginine (300 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) to groups of rats. Animals were divided into five groups each comprising of five rats in each experiment; two groups were orally administered distilled water (control) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg body weight), respectively, while the remaining three groups were administered 2, 6 and 10 g/kg honey for anti-inflammatory studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Honey significantly (P<0.05) reduced the paw size in the carrageenan model, while in the cotton pellet model, the granuloma weight was significantly (P<0.05) reduced. Honey also significantly (P<0.05) reduced the arthritis induced by formaldehyde injection from the second day of the study. In the investigation on NO involvement, L-NAME significantly inhibited paw oedema while the administration of L-arginine abolished the anti-inflammatory effect of honey and L-NAME.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained from the study confirm that honey has an anti-inflammatory effect which may be due in part to inhibition of NO release. Therefore honey may be used to treat certain acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. deleyele@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bamidele Victor
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Owoyele
authors.forename: Omosunkanmi Toyin
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Adenekan
authors.forename: Ayodele Olufemi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Soladoye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006722:Honey; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide