Trihoney reduces lipid peroxidation and enhances antioxidant enzyme activities in hypercholesterolaemic atherosclerotic rabbits

Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) constitute a major pathogenic mechanism for the development of atherosclerosis. In the present work, the antioxidant potential of Trihoney was investigated in hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. Thirty-six male New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were grouped into: normal diet (C), normal diet with 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney (C+H), 1% cholesterol diet (HCD), 1% cholesterol diet with 0.3 g/kg/day of Trihoney (HCD+H1), 1% cholesterol diet with 0.6 g/kg/day of Trihoney (HCD+H2), and 1% cholesterol diet with 2 mg/kg/day of atorvastatin (HCD+At.). Animals were sacrificed follow-ing 12 weeks of treatment, and their serum was analysed for oxidised-low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). Serum and aortic tissue homogenate were assayed for superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Hypercholesterolemia caused a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in serum Ox-LDL and a significant (p < 0.05) reduc-tion of antioxidant enzyme activities in serum of the HCD group. Trihoney induced a signifi-cant (p < 0.05) increase in antioxidant enzyme activities in serum as compared to the HCD group. The high cholesterol diet suppressed both antioxidant enzymes in aortic homogenate. Trihoney significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced both antioxidant enzymes in aortic homogenate. Hypercholesterolemia induced a significant (p < 0.05) elevation of serum lipid peroxidation in the HCD group. Trihoney caused a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of lipid peroxidation in aortic homogenate. These results demonstrated that Trihoney has the potential to ameliorate oxidative stress systemically, as well as locally in the atherosclerotic aorta. (C) All Rights Reserved