Effect of Acacia Honey on Serum Uric Acid Level and Liver Injury in Rats

Objective Honey is generally considered to be a natural product with rich nutritional value. However, the fructose contained in honey is harmful to the liver. This study aims to observe the effect of acacia honey (AH) on serum uric acid and liver injury in potassium oxonate model rats after drinking AH aqueous solution. Materials and methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were selected and randomly divided into control group (CON group), potassium oxonate model group (OA model group), 10% fructose group (10%F group) and different concentration AH groups (25%, 12.5% and 6.25% AH groups). 100 mg/kg OA solution combined with fructose solution or AH solution was administered to gavage model rats. After the 4 weeks test, blood and liver tissues were collected, serum uric acid content, biochemical indexes, activities of alanine transaminase and alanine transaminase were determined, and liver histological sections were observed. Results AH can significantly increase serum uric acid level, liver weight and liver to body weight ratio ( p < 0.05). The levels of serum triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), and high-density fatty acid cholesterol (HDL-C) were elevated in 25% and 12.5% AH groups compared with CON group or OA model group ( p < 0.05), but serum levels of TG, FFA, HDL-C, total cholesterol (T-CHO) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly increased in 6.25%AH group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion AH can cause fatty liver disease in all rats in a dose dependent manner. In the dose range of the present study, AH can induce hyperuricemia, hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver disease.