The Protective Effects of Insulin and Natural Honey against Hippocampal Cell Death in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

We investigated the effects of insulin and honey as antioxidants to prevent the hippocampal cell death in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We selected sixty Wister rats (5 groups of 12 animals each), including the control group (C), and four diabetic groups (control (D) and 3 groups treated with insulin (I), honey (H), and insulin plus honey (I + H)). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (IP, 60 mg/kg). Six weeks after the induction of diabetes, the group I received insulin (3-4 U/kg/day, SC), group H received honey (5 mg/kg/day, IP), and group I + H received a combination of the above at the same dose. Groups C and D received normal saline. Two weeks after treatment, rats were sacrificed and the hippocampus was extracted. Neuronal cell death in the hippocampal region was examined using trypan blue assay, “H & E” staining, and TUNEL assay. Cell viability assessment showed significantly lower number of living cells in group D than in group C. Besides, the mean number of living cells was significantly higher in group I, H, and I + H compared to group D. Therefore, it can be concluded that the treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin, honey, and a combination of insulin and honey can prevent neuronal cell death in different hippocampal areas of the studied samples.

Neuroprotective effects of Tualang honey against oxidative stress and memory decline in young and aged rats exposed to noise stress

“…Therefore, it is suggested that the memory enhancing effects of Tualang honey could be due to the enhancement of neuronal proliferation in mPFC and hippocampus, a result paralleled to the previous study done in stressed ovariectomized rats [32]. Another study demonstrated that honey effectively inhibited apoptosis or neuronal cell death in the hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [70]. As discussed earlier, exposure to stress increases oxidative stress in the hippocampus leading to the generation of ROS, which attacks and damages the nerve cell membrane and alters mitochondrial membrane permeability, resulting in neuronal loss.…”

Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of lycopene and insulin in the hippocampus of streptozotocin‑induced diabetic rats

“…An overnight fast was followed by a single dose of 60 mg/kg STZ (Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) prepared in citrate buffer (pH 4.4; 0.1 M), injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to induce diabetes (19). Blood samples (0.2-0.5 ml) were collected through the tail vein, and glucose levels measured using a glucometer (Accu-Chek; Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany); diabetes was confirmed 72 h after STZ injection.…”

Demystifying the Use of Honey in Diabetes Management: A Case of Type 2 Diabetes Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

“…A negative correlation was observed between knowledge on the benefits of honey in diabetes and actual use of honey. This could be due to the fact that there was not much information or evidence on the effectiveness of controlling blood glucose levels through use of honey [21]. Respondents in this study who had been using honey in either food or drink for some time (up to 4 years) were cautiously optimistic of its contribution in maintaining a controlled blood sugar or for any other benefits.…”