Effects of honey on sialidase activities in blood and liver of adult wistar rats

Wilson J. I.

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka. Nigeria.

E-mail: docwiliju@yahoo.com

Received 19 March, 2012; Accepted 29 March, 2012

Abstract

Honey is a sweet viscous fluid produced by  bees. Honey which contains mainly fructose and glucose is either taken as curative agent or substitute for refined sugar, yet its chronic effect on blood and liver sialic acid levels have not been reported. This study reports an investigation into the sialic acid levels in liver, hemoglobin-free erythrocytes and plasma in adult Wistar rats exposed to chronic consumption of honey. Twenty adult Wistar rats, between 170 and 200 grams in weight were divided into four groups of five rats each. The rats were fed daily with 0%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of honey mixed with 100, 80, 70 and 60 grams of animal chow in groups I, II, III and IV, respectively for eight weeks. The Wistar rats were then sacrificed and blood and liver tissue samples were collected for sialic acid analyses. The sialic acid levels in the plasma free, haemoglobin-free erythrocytes and liver free sialic acid levels in groups II, III and IV induced by honey consumption showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) when compared with the control group I. Chronic consumption of honey may increase the risk of hepatic damage.

Keywords: Erythrocytes, Honey, Liver, Sialic acid, Sialidase.