Mohd Ali, Nor Azeera
(2015)
Evaluation of long term oral administration of gamma irradiated tualang honey in specific pathogen free sprague-dawley rats.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia .
Abstract
Gamma irradiated Tualang honey (GITH) is reported to have high antioxidant
and free radical scavenging activities along with its anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. A detailed study to evaluate its long term
oral administration is therefore, necessary. The study design was adapted from The
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guideline no. 452
with slight modifications. A total of 120 healthy male and female specific pathogen free
(SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats (6±1 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups
(n=10-20 each) fed with different GITH doses [0 (Group I), 0.2 (Group II), 1.0 (Group
III) and 2.0 g/kg body weight] (Group IV) daily for six months. Weekly body weight,
mortality and morbidity, physical appearance and behavioural characteristics were
recorded. After six months, blood sample of overnight fasted rats were analysed for
haematology and clinical biochemistry parameters. Full gross necropsies were
conducted followed by the determination of absolute and relative organ weights (ROW)
were determined. Adrenal glands, kidneys and liver were then subjected to histological
assessments. The study revealed that no morbidity and mortality were observed and no
significant changes in body weight recorded between all groups. Group II (male and
female) possessed significantly higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations
(MCHC) when compared to Group IV (male) and other groups (female). Higher mean
corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) values were observed in female rats (Group II) when
compared with other groups. Group IV (male) have lower blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
when compared to Group I and II. Significantly lower alanine transaminase were
observed in all GITH treated groups (male) in comparison with control group. No
noticeable changes in gross appearance of rats internal organs were seen with no marked
changes in absolute and ROW. Histological examinations revealed normal morphology
of adrenal glands, kidneys and livers for all the rats. Histomorphometry analysis of
adrenal glands revealed lower width of zona fasciculata regions in all GITH treated
groups (male) and Group III (female) when compared to Group I. Dilatation of
Bowman‟s space were observed in Group IV (male) in comparison to Group I and III.
Significant variations of binucleated hepatocytes size in Group II and III as compared to
Group I (male); and Group IV when compared to Group II and III (female) was
observed. In conclusion, long term oral administration of GITH does not produce any
detrimental effects in the body weight, physical and behavioural characteristics, as well
as clinical laboratory analysis and histopathological parameters. Hence, overall findings
suggested that GITH preserved the normal functions of adrenal glands, kidney and liver
of SPF rats and may contribute to positive effects that warrant further evaluations.
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