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

Abstract

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.