The possible protective effect of manuka honey on gentamycin induced renal tubules toxicity in adult male albino rats. Histological and biochemical study.

Introduction: Gentamicin (Gen) is a commonly utilized antibiotic for various bacterial infections. However, it is among the primary causes of drug-induced renal toxicity. Manuka honey (MH) is a naturally occurring supplement known for its ability to mitigate inflammatory and oxidative stress statuses.Aim: To evaluate the protective role of Manuka honey in gentamicin-induced acute kidney injury.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four rats were arranged into four experimental groups. The control group was given distilled water for 30 days orally. The Gentamicin group (GEN) received gentamicin intraperitoneally (100 mg/kg/day) for 10 days and was sacrificed on day 11. The Gentamicin + Manuka honey group (GEN+MH) received Manuka honey (2.5 g/kg/day) for 30 days and gentamicin for 10 days starting from day 11. The spontaneous recovery group (GEN-S) received gentamicin as in GEN group for 10 days starting from day 11 of the experiment and was sacrificed on day 30. Biochemical analyses for oxidative stress markers and kidney function tests were conducted, along with histological and immunohistochemical analysis to assess the extent of kidney damage, fibrosis, and inflammation.Results: The GEN group demonstrated significant oxidative stress and impaired kidney function. Histological examination revealed severe tubular damage, including irregularly dilated tubules with abnormal epithelial lining, defective brush borders, inflammatory cell infiltration, blood vessels congestion, and fibrosis. Ultrastructural changes included vacuolated epithelium, shrunken nuclei, abnormal mitochondria, loss of basal striations, and disrupted intercellular junctions with widened intercellular spaces. Manuka honey administration in the GEN+MH group was associated with a notable reduction in kidney damage, fibrosis, and inflammation as demonstrated by biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical assessments. No significant improvement was noted in the GEN-S group. Conclusion: Manuka honey exhibited a protective effect against gentamicin-induced renal affection through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties in adult male albino rats.