EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF ACACIA HONEY AND PIOGLITAZONE ON INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as a major health threat worldwide. There is an increasing advocacy of natural products in the treatment of DM and its complications. Objective of this study was to see the effect of supplementation of Pioglitazone and Acacia honey on inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: The study was conducted in Al-Nafees Medical College in association with National Institute of Health, Islamabad. There were 150 male Sprague Dawley rats divided into 5 equal groups. Group-I was taken as normal control whereas Group-II was diabetic control. The Groups-II?V were given STZ through intraperitoneal route. Group-III received Acacia honey for 3 weeks. Group-IV was given intra-peritoneal injection of pioglitazone plus Acacia honey, and Group-V was administered pioglitazone through intraperitoneal route for same dose and duration. Serum catalase, hydrogen peroxide, CRP and TNF-? were measured after three weeks. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS-22. The values were presented as Mean±SEM and p?0.05 was considered significant. Results: On day 25 compared to Group-II, serum TNF-? and hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly decreased in Groups-III, IV and V. The mean serum CRP levels were significantly decreased in Group-III and IV while Group-II and III had significantly raised serum catalase levels. Conclusion: Acacia honey along with pioglitazone decreases oxidative stress as predicted by increase in levels of catalase. This combination also reduces inflammation as measured by decreased levels of CRP and TNF-? in STZ induced diabetic rats. Pak J Physiol 2024;24(3):18?22, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v20i3.1536