Therapeutic Implication of Honey against Chronic Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury via Enhancing Antioxidant Potential and Maintenance of Liver Tissue Architecture

Abstract

The current study was undertaken to examine the possible hepatoprotective effect of natural honey against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in mice. A significant increase in the serum aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase activity was noticed in mice exposed to CCl4. In addition to this, a significant decrease in total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) was observed in CCl4-induction group. However, treatment with honey (400 mg/kg b.w, 4 times/ week) clearly demonstrates significant hepatoprotective activities by lowering the liver marker enzymes towards the normal reference range and restores the antioxidant enzyme levels(p<0.05). The effect of CCl4 was also noticed microscopically by alteration in liver tissue architecture. The administration of liver toxicant causes, hemorrhage, congestion, necrosis, edema and remarkable blood vessel dilation. Moreover, honey exhibited protective action against this haloalkane in tissue architecture as the severity of liver tissue alteration was significantly reduced (p<0.05). The expressional pattern of P53 protein in groups treated with CCl4 only as well as honey plus CCl4 was statistically insignificant. In conclusion, this study reveals that natural honey has a remarkable protective effect against CCl4-induced liver toxicity at antioxidant enzyme, histological and protein expression level. Key words: Honey, Carbon tetrachloride, Liver toxicity, Antioxidant activity, Histopathological alteration