Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Kelulut (Stingless Bee) Honey in Alzheimer’s Disease: Findings from a Rat Model Study

Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Kelulut (Stingless Bee) Honey in Alzheimer’s Disease: Findings from a Rat Model Study. Antioxidants. (2024)



Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses a major worldwide health challenge because of its profound impact on cognitive abilities and overall well-being. Despite extensive research and numerous clinical trials, therapeutic options remain limited. Our study aimed to investigate the potential of Kelulut
honey (KH) as a novel therapeutic agent for addressing the multifactorial pathology of AD. We tried to evaluate the disease-attenuating and neuroprotective potential of KH in the intrahippocampally induced AD rat model by utilizing histochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) studies. A total of 26 male Sprague Dawley rats weighing ~280–380 g were randomly divided into
three groups: Control, AD-induced (Aβ), and AD-induced and treated with KH (Aβ+KH). The latter two groups underwent stereotaxic surgery, where 6.25 µg of amyloid β1–42 peptides were injected intrahippocampally. One-week post-surgery, KH was administered to the treatment group at a dose of 1 g/kg body weight for a period of four weeks, after which the rats went through behavior tests. After completion of behavior analysis, the rats were sacrificed, and the brains were processed for histochemistry and ELISA studies. The open field test analysis demonstrated that KH improved the locomotion of Aβ+KH compared to Aβ (p = 0.0013). In comparison, the Morris water maze did not show any nootropic effects on cognition with a paradoxical increase in time spent in the target quadrant by the Aβ group (p = 0.029). Histochemical staining showed markedly increased Congo-redstained amyloid plaques, which were significantly reduced in dentate gyrus of Aβ+KH compared to Aβ (p < 0.05). Moreover, significantly higher apoptosis was seen in the Aβ group compared to Aβ+KH (p < 0.01) and control groups (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the ELISA studies deduced more
phosphorylated tau in the diseased group compared to Aβ+KH (p = 0.038) and controls (p = 0.016). These findings suggest that KH consumption for twenty-eight days has the potential to attenuate the pathological burden of disease while exerting neuroprotective effects in rodent models of AD.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: stingless bee honey
Taxonomy: By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Breeding
By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Diseases and Pests
By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Ecology
By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Products Therapeutic Use
By Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee) > Research
Local Content Hub: Niche > Kelulut (Stingless Bee)
Depositing User: Nur Rohaya Razali
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2024 08:22
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2024 08:22
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