Malaysian gelam honey reduces oxidative damage and modulates antioxidant enzyme activities in young and middle aged rats

Honey contains antioxidants such as phenolic compounds that prevent cellular oxidative damage that lead to aging, diseases and death. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of local gelam honey supplementation on oxidative status of young and middle-aged rats. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two age groups; young (2 months) and middle aged (9 months). Each group was further divided into three groups; fed with plain water (control), supplemented with 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg of gelam honey for 30 days. DNA damage level was determined by comet assay, plasma malondialdehyde by high performance liquid chromatography and antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase; SOD, glutathione peroxidase; GPx and catalase; CAT) were determined in the erythrocytes and liver. Results showed that supplementation of gelam honey reduced DNA damage, MDA level and GPx activity in the liver of both age groups. But erythrocytes GPx activity in young rats increased markedly with 5 g/kg of gelam honey supplementation. Liver and erythrocytes CAT activities decreased in both age groups when two different doses were used. Liver SOD activity also decreased in young rats supplemented with 5 g/kg of gelam honey. In conclusion, gelam honey reduces oxidative damage of young and middle aged rats by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities which was more prominent at higher concentration (5 g/kg body weight) compared to lower concentration (2.5 g/kg body weight).