Biological Properties and Uses of Honey: A Concise Scientific review

The global prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease is on the rise. These diseases constitute the major causes of death globally. Honey is a natural substance with many medicinal properties such as antibacterial, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, reproductive, and antihypertensive and antioxidant. This review presents findings that indicate honey may ameliorate oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), liver, pancreas, kidney, reproductive organs and plasma/serum. Besides, the review highlights data that demonstrate the synergistic antioxidant effect of honey and antidiabetic drugs in the pancreas, kidney, and serum of diabetic rats. These data suggest that honey, administered alone or in combination with conventional therapy, might be a novel antioxidant in the management of chronic diseases commonly associated with oxidative stress. In view of the fact that the majority of these data emanate from animal studies, there is an urgent need to investigate this antioxidant effect of honey in human subjects with chronic or degenerative diseases.

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Effects of Fermented Houttuynia cordata Thunb. on Diabetic Rats Induced by a High-Fat Diet with Streptozotocin and on Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1155/2021/6936025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Wannachai Sakuludomkan ◽

Ranchana Yeewa ◽

Subhawat Subhawa ◽

Chakkrit Khanaree ◽

Arisa Imsumran Bonness ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Insulin Resistance ◽

Cell Function ◽

Pancreatic Beta Cell ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Human Consumption ◽

High Fat ◽

Houttuynia Cordata ◽

Houttuynia Cordata Thunb

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (plukaow in Thai language) exhibits several biological properties, and many products of H. cordata are therefore commercially available for human consumption, such as fermented juice or tablets as food supplements. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effects of fermented H. cordata (HC) in high-fat diets and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of HC at a dose of 100 mg/kg.bw not only maintained bodyweight, food intake, and water consumption but also reduced blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance ability in the diabetic rats. Moreover, HC also decreased oxidative stress markers in serum and inflammatory-related mediators in pancreas tissues, indicating the improvement of pancreatic beta-cell function in the diabetic rats. In order to clarify the mechanism of HC, the effects of ethanolic extract of HC (HCE) on insulin resistance were determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. FHE could recover glucose uptake and decrease lipolysis in palmitate-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that HC can improve diabetic symptoms by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress, and suppressing inflammation.

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Antioxidant effect of carnosine treatment on renal oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Biotechnic & Histochemistry ◽

10.3109/10520295.2014.913811 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 552-557 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A Yay ◽

D Akkuş ◽

H Yapıslar ◽

E Balcıoglu ◽

MF Sonmez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Antioxidant Effect

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Processed Tomato Products as a Source of Dietary Lycopene: Bioavailability and Antioxidant Properties

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research ◽

10.3148/65.4.2004.161 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 161-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

A. Venket Rao

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Healthy Human ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Total Antioxidant ◽

Trolox Equivalent ◽

Tomato Products ◽

Total Antioxidant Potential

Oxidative stress is one of the major contributors to increased risk of chronic diseases. A diet rich in tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant, has been found to protect against these chronic diseases by mitigating oxidative damage. The study aim was to evaluate the effects of a long-term tomato-rich diet, consisting of various processed tomato products, on bioavailability and antioxidant properties of lycopene. Seventeen healthy human subjects (ten men, seven non-pregnant women) participated in the study. Following a two-week washout period during which subjects avoided foods containing lycopene, all subjects consumed test tomato products including tomato juice, tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and ready-to-serve tomato soup providing 30 mg of lycopene a day for four weeks. At the end of treatment, serum lycopene level increased significantly (p <0.05), from 181.79 ± 31.25 to 684.7 ± 113.91 nmol/L. Similarly, total antioxidant potential increased significantly (p <0.05), from 2.26 ± 0.015 to 2.38 ± 0.17 mmol/L Trolox equivalent. Lipid and protein oxidation was reduced significantly (p <0.05). The results suggest that a tomato-rich diet containing different sources of lycopene can increase serum lycopene levels and reduce oxidative stress effectively.

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Opuntiaspp.: Characterization and Benefits in Chronic Diseases

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2017/8634249 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

María del Socorro Santos Díaz ◽

Ana-Paulina Barba de la Rosa ◽

Cécile Héliès-Toussaint ◽

Françoise Guéraud ◽

Anne Nègre-Salvayre

Keyword(s):

Chronic Diseases ◽

Folk Medicine ◽

Value Added ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Phytochemical Composition ◽

Pharmaceutical Agent ◽

Desert Areas ◽

Medicinal Properties ◽

Phytochemical Components ◽

Value Added Products

Opuntiaspecies have been used for centuries as food resources and in traditional folk medicine for their nutritional properties and their benefit in chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. These plants are largely distributed in America, Africa, and the Mediterranean basin.Opuntiaspp. have great economic potential because they grow in arid and desert areas, andO. ficus-indica, the domesticatedO. species, is used as a nutritional and pharmaceutical agent in various dietary and value-added products. Though differences in the phytochemical composition exist between wild and domesticated (O. ficus-indica)Opuntiaspp., allOpuntiavegetatives (pear, roots, cladodes, seeds, and juice) exhibit beneficial properties mainly resulting from their high content in antioxidants (flavonoids, ascorbate), pigments (carotenoids, betalains), and phenolic acids. Other phytochemical components (biopeptides, soluble fibers) have been characterized and contribute to the medicinal properties ofOpuntiaspp. The biological properties ofOpuntiaspp. have been investigated on cellular and animal models and in clinical trials in humans, allowing characterization and clarification of the protective effect ofOpuntia-enriched diets in chronic diseases. This review is an update on the phytochemical composition and biological properties ofOpuntiaspp. and their potential interest in medicine.

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The Antioxidant Capacities of Natural Products 2019

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25235676 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (23) ◽

pp. 5676

Author(s):

Susana M. Cardoso ◽

Alessia Fassio

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Natural Products ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Antioxidant Capacities

The search for new natural antioxidants is a growing area of research due to the broad spectrum of their biological properties, which are associated with the prevention of chronic diseases that originate in oxidative stress [...]

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Antioxidant effect of Arrabideae chica (crajiru) extract on oxidative stress in diabetic rats

JOURNAL OF SURGICAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH ◽

10.20398/jscr.v12i1.27173 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Paula Perlles Gomes Bandeira e Sousa ◽

Ítalo Medeiros Azevedo ◽

Aldo Cunha Medeiros

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Normal Saline ◽

Saline Solution ◽

Kidney Tissue ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Antioxidant Effect ◽

Diabetes Treatment ◽

Control Groups ◽

Tukey Test ◽

Significant Difference

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the antioxidant potential of Arrabideae chica (crajiru) extract on oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Methods: Adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), weighing 238±12g were divided into three groups of six rats each: CN normal untreated control; DIAB+NS diabetic rats treated with normal saline; and diabetic rats treated with crajiru extract, DIAB+CR. The CN and DIAB+NS groups (control groups) received normal saline solution (NS) orally (gavage); rats in the DIAB+CR group received crajiru extract (300 mg/kg) once a day by gavage for 6 weeks. Measurements of urea and creatinine in serum, and kidney tissue catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were performed. The variables were assessed using the Tukey test, significance p<0.05. Results: All animals survived the experiments. In the CN group, compared with the DIAB+NS group, there was significant difference between the levels of glycemia on the second day of dosing and on the 10th day (p<0.05). No difference was observed on glycemia comparing the 2th and 10th day on the rats of group C+NS (p>0.05). Diabetic animals from DIAB+CR group had a significant reduction in glycemia on 10th day of treatment, comparing the 2nd day (p<0.05). There was a significant reduction in glycemia in the DIAB+CR group, comparing with the DIAB+NS group (p<0.05). There was an increase in urea and creatinine levels in rats DIAB+SN when compared to controls, C+SN (p<0.001). Rats from the DIAB+CR group had a significant reduction in urea and creatinine, compared to the DIAB+NS group (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in urea and creatinine comparing the C+NS and DIAB+CR groups. The rats from the DIAB+NS group had significantly lower levels of CAT, GSH-px and SOD when compared to the normal control rats (p<0.001). In animals from the DIAB+SN group, the levels of these antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced (p<0.001). The treatment of diabetics with crajiru extract caused a significant increase (p<0.001) in the levels of CAT, GSH-px and SOD, when compared to rats in the BIAB+SN group. Conclusion: The data of the present study confirms that the crajiru extract positively influenced the control of hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. More research is needed to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes treatment using crajiru extract and its flavonoids.

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Resveratrol and Red Wine Function as Antioxidants in the Nervous System without Cellular Proliferative Effects during Experimental Diabetes

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.4161/oxim.3.6.14741 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 434-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Carina Duarte Venturini ◽

Suélen Merlo ◽

André Arigony Souto ◽

Marilda da Cruz Fernandes ◽

Rosane Gomez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cellular Proliferation ◽

Red Wine ◽

Brain Area ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Antioxidant Effect ◽

Chronic Hyperglycemia ◽

Hippocampal Cell

Chronic hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress status and has been associated with neurological complications in diabetic individuals. This study compared the antioxidant properties of red wine or resveratrol in different brain areas of diabetic and non-diabetic rats, and investigated the effect of them on hippocampal cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic and control rats were treated with red wine (4 mL/kg), resveratrol (20 mg/kg) or saline, by oral gavage, for 21 days. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), catalase and superoxide dismutase were measured to evaluate the oxidative stress and the BrdU-positive cells were assessed to measure changes in cellular proliferation. In diabetic animals, resveratrol showed antioxidant property in the hippocampus and in the striatum, while red wine had an antioxidant effect only in the hippocampus. Neither red wine nor resveratrol reversed the lower hippocampal cell proliferation in diabetic rats. Daily doses of red wine or resveratrol have an antioxidant effect in rats depending on the brain area and the glycemic status.

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