Evaluation of the hypoglycaemic effect of honey in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats

The use of honey in diabetes have been highly controversial, although studies have shown that honey may be beneficial in diabetic subject because of its low glycaemic index, other researchers have disagreed, largely because it is a source of dietary carbohydrate. This study was designed to determine the hypoglycaemic effect of honey in experimentally induced-diabetic and normoglycemic Wistar rats. Fifty (50) healthy adult rats of both sexes with average weight of 180 g were used for this study. They were assigned into two groups: Diabetic and Normoglycaemic group, each group was sub grouped into five groups of five animals each. Hyperglycemia was induced in the diabetic group by single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg b w of alloxan dissolved in cold normal saline (0.9%). 72 hours later blood sample was collected and blood glucose measured using one touch glucometer. Rats with blood glucose level greater than 200 mg/dl were considered to be diabetic. Varying doses of honey (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg b w) were administered orally once daily to both groups. The result obtained showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels in the diabetic animals that received all doses of honey when compared to the control animals. The results obtained in the normoglycaemic group showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in blood glucose levels between the control and the animals administered with graded doses of honey when compared. The result of this study demonstrated that honey possesses anti-hyperglycemic activities in wistar rats and can be recommended to diabetics and non diabetics for its beneficial effect on glycaemic control