Modulatory Effects of Natural Honey on Lipid Homeostasis and Hepatic Biomarkers in Albino Rats: Evidence of Hepatoprotective Potential

Abstract

Background: Natural honey has been the focus of growing attention due to its potential therapeutic effects, especially concerning oxidative stress, liver functioning, and metabolism. The modulatory effects of natural honey on lipid homeostasis and hepatic biomarkers in the albino rats were evaluated in this study.

Methods: A random assignment of twenty male Wistar albino rats was divided into four groups (n = 5): control (distilled water), low dose honey (1 mL/kg), medium dose honey (2 mL/kg) and high dose honey (4 mL/kg). Honey was given orally every day (21 days). Blood samples were taken at the end of the treatment period to analyze the lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C) and hepatic biomarkers (AST, ALT, ALP, total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin). The one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc test (p < 0.05) was used to analyze the data.

Results: Honey administration was seen to significantly decrease the level of AST, ALT, ALP in the treated groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05). There was also a significant decrease in total bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin levels but no significant change in conjugated bilirubin. However, no significant difference was seen among the lipid profile parameters (p > 0.05) except for slight differences in triglycerides and VLDL-C and a strong positive correlation was seen between the hepatic markers (AST, ALT, ALP). There was also a significant positive correlation of triglycerides to VLDL-C, and relatively poor correlations of the lipid profile parameters to the hepatic biomarkers..

Conclusion: Under normal physiological conditions, natural honey did not exhibit strong lipid-modulatory activity but displayed strong hepatoprotective activity. These results indicate that the cardiometabolic effects of honey could be mainly mediated by the hepatic stabilization and antioxidant effects of honey instead of direct lipid lowering.