Honey protects against cisplatin-induced hepatic and renal toxicity through inhibition of NF-κB-mediated COX-2 expression and the oxidative stress dependent BAX/Bcl-2/caspase-3 apoptotic pathway

Food Funct. 2018 Jul 17;9(7):3743-3754. doi: 10.1039/c8fo00653a.

Abstract

The protective effects of both manuka and talh honeys were assessed using a rat model of cisplatin (CISP)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The results revealed that both honeys exerted a protective effect against CISP-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity as demonstrated by decreasing liver and kidney function. Manuka honey also prevented CISP-induced histopathological changes observed in the liver and decreased the changes seen in the kidneys. Talh honey decreased CISP-induced liver histopathological changes but had no effect on CISP-induced kidney histopathological changes. Both honeys reduced the oxidative stress in the liver. Conversely, they have no effect on kidney oxidative stress, except that manuka honey increased CAT activity. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of the antioxidant octadecanoic acid in talh honey while heneicosane and hydrocinnamic acid were present at a higher content in manuka honey. The molecular mechanism was to limit the expression of inflammatory signals, including COX-2 and NF-κB, and the expression of the apoptotic signal, BAX and caspase-3 while inducing Bcl-2 expression.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / genetics
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cisplatin / toxicity*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Honey / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Protective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / genetics
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • NF-kappa B
  • Protective Agents
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Caspase 3
  • Cisplatin