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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2008; 14(23): 3729-3732
Published online Jun 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.3729
Honey prevents hepatic damage induced by obstruction of the common bile duct
B Imge Erguder, Sibel S Kilicoglu, Mehmet Namuslu, Bulent Kilicoglu, Erdinc Devrim, Kemal Kismet, Ilker Durak
B Imge Erguder, Mehmet Namuslu, Erdinc Devrim, Ilker Durak, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06100, Turkey
Sibel S Kilicoglu, Department of Histology and Embriology, Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06800, Turkey
Bulent Kilicoglu, Kemal Kismet, Ankara Research and Training Hospital, Clinics of General Surgery, Ankara 06100, Turkey
Author contributions: Erguder BI, Devrim E and Namuslu M performed biochemical analysis in this work, Kilicoglu SS performed histological examination, Kilicoglu B removed the tissues surgically, Kismet K analyzed data; and Erguder BI, Durak I, and Kilicoglu B wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: B Imge Erguder, Ankara Universitesy Tip Fakultesi, Biyokimya Anabilim Dali Dekanlik Binasi, Sihhiye 06100, Ankara 06100, Turkey. imgeerguder@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-312-3103010
Fax: +90-312-3106370
Received: January 11, 2008
Revised: March 19, 2008
Accepted: March 26, 2008
Published online: June 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To examine the possible effects of honey supplementation on hepatic damage due to obstruction of the common bile duct in an experimental rat model.

METHODS: The study was performed with 30 male rats divided into three groups: a sham group, an obstructive jaundice group, and an obstructive jaundice plus honey group. At the end of the study period, the animals were sacrificed, and levels of nitric oxide (NO), and NO synthase (NOS) activities were measured in liver tissues, and levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities were measured in serum.

RESULTS: Blood ALT and ADA activities were significantly elevated in the jaundice group as compared to those of the sham group. In the obstructive jaundice plus honey group, blood ALT and ADA activities were significantly decreased as compared to those of the jaundice group. In erythrocytes and liver tissues, NO levels were found to be significantly higher in the obstructive jaundice plus honey group compared to those of the sham group. Additionally, NO levels were found to be significantly higher in liver tissues from the animals in the obstructive jaundice plus honey group than those of the jaundice group.

CONCLUSION: Honey was found to be beneficial in the prevention of hepatic damage due to obstruction of the common bile duct.

Keywords: Honey; Obstructive jaundice; Adenosine deaminase; Nitric oxide