TUALANG HONEY ATTENUATES KAINIC ACID-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RAT CEREBELLUM AND BRAINSTEM

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the protective effect of tualang honey (TH) against kainic acid (KA)-induced oxidative stress in the cerebellum and brainstem of rats.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, KA-treated, TH+KA-treated, and topiramate (TPM, an antiepileptic agent)+KA-treated groups. Rats were pretreated orally with drinking water, TH (1.0 g/kg body weight), or TPM (40 mg/kg body weight), respectively, five times at 12 h intervals. Saline or KA (15 mg/kg body weight) were injected subcutaneously 30 min after last oral treatment. Rats were sacrificed at 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h after KA administration. Oxidative stress markers were analyzed in different brain regions (cerebellum and brainstem) 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h after KA administration.Results: KA caused significant (p<0.05) elevation in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level, protein carbonyl contents, and nitric oxide production, impairment of glutathione system, and a significant reduction in the total antioxidant status in the rat cerebellum and brainstem at multiple time-points, as compared to control groups. Pretreatment with TH significantly (p<0.05) reduced the elevation in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level, protein carbonyl contents, and nitric oxide production and increasing a reduction in the total antioxidant status in the rat cerebellum and brainstem induced by KA at multiple time-points, as compared to KA only-treated group.Conclusion: Taken together, this study suggests that TH has therapeutic potential in reducing oxidative stress in the cerebellum and brainstem of KA-induced rats via its antioxidant property.