Supplementation of Stingless Bee Honey from Heterotrigona itama Improves Antiobesity Parameters in High‐Fat Diet Induced Obese Rat Model

Abstract

Heterotrigona itama is a common stingless bee species found in Southeast Asia. Studies on the health benefits of its honey are limited in comparison with other stingless bee species. This study examines the antiobesity benefits found in stingless bee honey (SBH) from H. itama. The parameters used to measure the benefits were weight change, morphological structures, and biochemical characteristics. The research was conducted by using rats that were given a high-fat diet (HFD). In total 48 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were given a formulated HFD to increase the levels of obesity, the HFD was administered with a value of 0.68 g/cm2. The duration of the treatment was six weeks, and the results show that the induction obesity using the HFD was successful. Following this, the rats were then treated with SBH (at dosages of 1000 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg), with orlistat or with a placebo. Compared with typical obesity treatment methods, the one that used the three dosages of SBH showed a higher reduction in body mass index (BMI), percentage of body weight gain, adiposity index, and relative organ weight (ROW). The levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP) were also significantly lower in SBH-treated groups. The levels of triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol were significantly lower, while the level of HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in comparison with the control obese group. In terms of morphological structures, the number of adipocyte cells was reduced, and the hepatocytes found in the liver were less prone to rupturing when treated with SBH. In conclusion, the administration of SBH led to an improvement in indicators associated with obesity reduction. SBH also possesses a hepatoprotective potential which can reduce the health risks related to obesity.

The Synergistic Beneficial Effect of Thyme Honey and Olive Oil against Diabetes and Its Complications Induced by Alloxan in Wistar Rats

“…Traditionally, honey was widely used for wound healing, as a food preservative, and against gastrointestinal illnesses [ 12 ]. According to recent literature, honey has revealed the presence of several beneficial effects for human health such as antibacterial [ 13 ], antioxidant, anti-inflammatory [ 14 ], and cardioprotective effects [ 15 ], with potentials as antiobesity [ 16 ] and neuroactivation associated with spatial memory [ 17 ].…”

The Mechanism of Honey in Reversing Metabolic Syndrome

“…Similar results were demonstrated by Rafie and colleagues using stingless bee honey (SBH) from Heterotrigona itama . The rats showed reduced BMI, percentage body weight gain, adiposity index, and relative liver weight after a 6-week honey supplementation (500–1000 mg/kg) [ 85 ]. Ramli and colleagues also observed a reduction in body fat and omental fat mass in rats supplemented with 1 g/kg/day of Kelulut honey for 8 weeks [ 86 ].…”

Antioxidant-Based Medicinal Properties of Stingless Bee Products: Recent Progress and Future Directions

“…In a study conducted on obese rats treated with SBH, a significant reduction was observed in body mass index (BMI), percentage of body weight gain, adiposity index, relative organ weight (ROW), liver enzymes, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased [ 34 ]. SBH treatment showed a reduced number of adipocyte cells, while the hepatocytes found in the liver were less prone to rupturing when treated with SBH, suggesting that SBH improved the indicators associated with obesity reduction and reduced the health risks related to obesity [ 34 ]. Another study on diabetic rats showed that SBH kept fasting blood glucose, total cholesterols, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol at low levels, whereas serum insulin and HDL cholesterol levels were increased [ 38 ].…”

“…In addition, some inflammatory markers, such as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKK-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and apoptosis marker caspase-9 showed a steady decrease following treatment with SBH, while anti-oxidative enzyme catalase was increased [ 38 ]. Together, these studies have shown that not only the antidiabetic properties of SBH as a protection agent against pancreas dysfunction, it also highlighted the potential anti-obesity activity of SBH, by maintaining the lipid profile in homeostasis and could even affect the morphological structures in the liver [ 34 , 38 ].…”