Oxidative stress is a medical condition associated with the overexpression of free radicals compared to low levels of antioxidant enzymes produced by the host.
In fact, free radicals are constantly produced in animal and human cells. The air we breathe, the thing we eat, and the environment we contact are some factors that cause the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Epidemiological studies suggested that oxidative stress can induce damage to the cell, lipid, proteins, and alternation of cell DNA, leading to chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and particularly, cancer.
How overexpression of free radicals causes damage to the cells. Researchers explained due to free radical unstable nature with unpair of electrons on the out ring of molecules, they constantly seek to donate or intercept the electron from other stable atoms, leading to a chain reaction that can not be stopped until all unpaired electrons are paired or inhibited by antioxidants.
These processes can lead to an imbalance of the ratio of free radicals and antioxidants produced by the host body resulting in oxidative stress, a major cause of cell, lipid, and protein damage.
In spite of free radical's harmful effects, one must understand that cellular oxygen species (ROS), are necessary with a moderate amount to protect our body in the mediation of antimicrobial infection, detoxification of potentially toxic compounds, and elimination of cancerous and other life-threatening cells through cytotoxicity.
On the other hand, antioxidants are stable molecules that inhibit oxidation. Antioxidants can reduce levels of free radicals and overexpression can limit the free radical function in carrying out their health benefits.
Therefore, in order to maintain good health, the levels of free radicals and antioxidants must be balanced.
Honey is a miraculous product made by bees using nectar from flowers.
The rich golden liquid is considered one of the healthy sweet food for replacing the use of white sugar and artificial sweetener by many people.
Researchers on finding a natural compound for the inhibition of oxidative stress examined the honey activity on oxidative stress induced by lead acetate exposure in male Wistar rats.
The study included 24 male Wistar rats randomly divided into four groups: Control group that received 1 ml/kg distilled orally for 28 days; while groups II-IV received 0.2% lead in drinking water and 1 ml/kg of distilled water, 1 ml/kg of honey, 1.5 ml/kg of honey respectively for 28 days.
Before pretreatment with honey, infected rats showed a decrease in locomotor and exploratory and decrease antioxidant activity increase in anxiety, memory impairment, lipid peroxidation.
Co-administration of honey with lead inhibited neurotoxicity observed by the improvement in memory function and decreased latency period and increased in time spent in target quadrant compared to the lead-exposed animals.
Injection of honey in the lead-fed group also increased locomotion, exploration, and decreased anxiety observed by the frequency of rearing, freezing duration, and the number of lines crossed by animals.
More importantly, the administration of honey improved the levels of antioxidant enzymes produced by the host observed by increased brain SOD, GST, and GSH activities compared to the lead-treated groups.
However, the honey pretreatment group showed no significant effect on MDA level, the oxidative stress marker.
These results suggested that honey exerted neuroprotective effects against lead-induced cognitive deficit probably by enhancing antioxidant activities without affecting the levels of MDA.
In order to reveal more information about honey antioxidative stress, researchers investigated the effects of Tualang honey (TH) protective activity against oxidative stress of exercise.
The study included 20 female athletes (aged 21.3 [2.1] years; body weight [BW] 54.1 [5.7] kg) were randomly assigned into two groups and consumed either 1.5 g/kg BW TH (high honey; HH; n = 10) or 0.75 g/kg BW TH (low honey; LH; n = 10).
Injection of Tualang honey showed a reduction of MDA in the LH group compared to the HH group. In other words, less oxidative stress was found in the LH group.
The concentrations of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP]) increased from baseline to 2 and 1 h after TH consumption, respectively, then the concentrations returned toward baseline at 3 h in both LH and HH groups.
MDA concentration significantly decreased (p < 0.05) from baseline to 2 h and significantly increased from 2 to 3 h in the HH group. Meanwhile, ROS levels increased significantly from 0.5 to 3 h in the HH group.
Compared to the HH group, the LH group showed similar trends but insignificant increased levels of MDA and ROS.
Taken altogether, honey particularly Tualang honey may be considered functional remedies for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to the expression of oxidative stress with no side effects, pending the confirmation of a large sample size and multicenter human study
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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma ISSN 0975-6299.
Sources:
(1) Honey prevents neurobehavioural deficit and oxidative stress induced by lead acetate exposure in male Wistar rats- a preliminary study by Abdulmajeed WI1, Sulieman HB2, Zubayr MO2, Imam A3, Amin A2, Biliaminu SA4, Oyewole LA2, Owoyele BV. (PubMed)
(2) Dose-Response Effect of Tualang Honey on Postprandial Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress in Female Athletes: A Pilot Study by Ahmad NS1, Abdul Aziz A2, Kong KW2, Hamid MSA3, Cheong JPG1, Hamzah SH1. (PubMed)
(3) The benefits and hazards of antioxidants: controlling apoptosis and other protective mechanisms in cancer patients and the human population by Salganik RI. (PubMed)
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