Study: Honey Helps Prevent Liver Damage

The Ultrastructural Research of Liver in Experimental Obstructive Jaundice and Effect of Honey
The American Journal of Surgery, Dec 14, 2007

Background: To examine the effects of honey on oxidative stress and apoptosis in experimental obstructive jaundice model.

Method: Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups: group I, sham-operated; group II, ligation and division of the common bile duct (BDL); group III, BDL followed by oral supplementation of honey 10 g/kg/d. Liver samples were examined under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis was quantitated using the terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Plasma and blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutation activities were measured for determining the oxidative stress.

Results: The liver levels of MDA and GSH were significantly different between the honey and BDL groups (P = .006 and .001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the plasma MDA and GSH levels of these groups (P > .05). In group III, significant reductions in the size of enlarged hepatocytes and the edema were demonstrated. The dilatation of the bile canaliculi dramatically turned to original dimention. By TUNEL assay, it was shown that administration of honey decreased the number of apoptotic cells.

Conclusions: In the present study, we found that honey diminished the negative effects of BDL on the hepatic ultrastructure. We conclude that this effect might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.