Alleviating Effects of Honey in Albino Wistar Rats with Hematological and Hepatic Variations Provoked by Methotrexate

Background: Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic drug with toxic consequences to the liver. Honey has been documented to have healing properties. This study aimed to explore the alleviating effects of Honey in rats with Hematological and Hepatic variations provoked by Methotrexate. Methods: This experimental research was conducted at Baqai Medical University for one year. 45 male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Control Group A with no intervention, treatment Group B with a single dose of Methotrexate of 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally and protected Group C with 10g/kg honey by gastric gavage for 7 days and 20 mg/kg of Methotrexate on the 4th day. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver samples were collected for liver enzymes and microscopic investigation. SPSS v25.0 was used for statistical analysis, with values as Mean ± SD, ANOVA for group comparisons, post hoc Tukey's test, and p<0.05 considered significant at a 95% confidence interval. Results: The ultimate body weight of Group B was reduced (162±2.58); whereas the relative and absolute weight of the liver increased (9.54±1.42) and (5.89±0.91) respectively. The levels of ALT (51.27±15.35), AST (103.41±2.68), ALP (353.64±2.54) and albumin (4.19±5.36) in the serum notably increased, while Group C showed significant improvement. Sections from Group A’s liver appeared to have normal parenchyma whereas it was altered in Group B, however Group C showed improvement. The hepatocyte counts per reticule decreased (7.18±1.36) significantly in Group B, while hepatocyte diameter increased (17.6±1.51) and nuclear diameter decreased (5.29±1.41). In contrast, all measurements showed improvement in Group C. Conclusion: This study indicated that Honey was able to alleviate Methotrexate induced hematological and hepatotoxic alterations.