Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TRIHONEY AGAINST HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA-INDUCED TESTICULAR OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RABBIT MODEL

Zainab Bubakr Hamad Zubi*, Hamad Abdulsalam Hamad Alfarisi and Muhammad Bin Ibrahim

ABSTRACT

Although testicular tissue is highly dependent on oxygen to drive normal spermatogenesis, it is highly sensitive to the toxic effect of reactive oxygen species. On the other hand, honey is a natural product known by its antioxidant properties. Hence, this study aims to investigate the antioxidant effects of Trihoney on testicular tissue of hypercholesterolemic rabbits and compare its effects with atorvastatin. Thirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned into 6 groups (n=6). Two groups were fed with commercial rabbit pellet and 0 and 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney; while, the other four groups were fed with 1% cholesterol diet and 0, 0.3, 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney and 2 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin respectively. After 12 weeks, the rabbits were euthanized. The testes were excised and homogenized for measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Administration of 1% cholesterol diet increased testicular MDA (p<0.05), reduced SOD (p<0.05) and GPx (p<0.05) activities. Trihoney supplementation and atorvastatin treatment reduced testicular MDA and enhanced testicular SOD activity. There was no detectable effect of Trihoney on testicular GPx activity; meanwhile, treatment with atorvastatin increased GPx activity. Based on the findings of this study, Trihoney and atorvastatin play favourable roles in the reduction of testicular oxidative stress induced by hypercholesterolemia in rabbit model.

Keywords: Hypercholesterolemia; Oxidative stress; Testes; Trihoney; Atorvastatin.