Tualang Honey Exerts Antidepressant-like Effects and Antioxidant Properties in Stress-exposed Rats

Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman; Rahimah Zakaria; Che Badariah Abdul Aziz; Zahiruddin Othman

Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2735-0177
Rahimah Zakaria Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2459-3213
Che Badariah Abdul Aziz Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0102-1594
Zahiruddin Othman Department of Psychology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9070-2078

Abstract

Recent evidence has exhibited dietary influence on the manifestation of depressive-like behaviour induced by stressor tasks. The present study examined the effects of Tualang honey supplement administered with the goal of preventing or attenuating the occurrence of depressive-like behaviour in male rats subjected to noise stress. Forty-eight adult male rats were randomly divided into the following groups: i) nonstressed with placebo, ii) nonstressed with honey, iii) stressed with placebo, and iv) stressed with honey. Tualang honey (200 mg/kg body weight) was administered for 28 days. Stressed rats were subjected to loud noise 100 dB(A) 4 hours daily for 14 days. Forced swimming test was performed to evaluate depressive-like behaviour. Stressed control rats displayed significant increase in depressive-like behaviour, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, and brain oxidative stress markers levels, with significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities and total antioxidant status. Honey supplementation successfully counteracted the stress effects whereby the honey treated rats exhibited significant decrease in depressive-like behaviour and levels of ACTH, corticosterone, and oxidative stress markers, with significant increase in antioxidant enzymes activities and total antioxidant status. In conclusion, Tualang honey mediated antidepressant-like effects in stressed rats, possibly acting via restoration of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through its antioxidant properties.

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