Adaptogenic potential of royal jelly in liver of rats exposed to chronic stress

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 29;13(1):e0191889. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191889. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Restraint and cold stress increase both corticosterone and glycemia, which lead to oxidative damages in hepatic tissue. This study assessed the effect of royal jelly (RJ) supplementation on the corticosterone level, glycemia, plasma enzymes and hepatic antioxidant system in restraint and cold stressed rats. Wistar rats were allocated into no-stress, stress, no-stress supplemented with RJ and stress supplemented with RJ groups. Initially, RJ (200mg/Kg) was administered for fourteen days and stressed groups were submitted to chronic stress from the seventh day. The results showed that RJ supplementation decreases corticosterone levels and improves glycemia control after stress induction. RJ supplementation also decreased the body weight, AST, ALP and GGT. Moreover, RJ improved total antioxidant capacity, SOD activity and reduced GSH, GR and lipoperoxidation in the liver. Thus, RJ supplementation reestablished the corticosterone levels and the hepatic antioxidant system in stressed rats, indicating an adaptogenic and hepatoprotective potential of RJ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cold Temperature
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • Fatty Acids*
  • Immobilization
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stress, Physiological*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids
  • royal jelly
  • Corticosterone

Grants and funding

The authors received funding support for this work by Foundation of Support Research of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.