Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Trigona Honey in the Therapy and Prevention against Respiratory Infection in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Trigona honey (TH) is well known for its therapeutic characteristics. To date, the study of Trigona honey as a prophylactic or immune booster prior to the bacterial infection of the invivo model is not well covered. This study aims to investigate anti-inflammatory and immune activities in Wistar rats infected with respiratory infection following with Trigona honey. 25 Wistar rats were assigned to five groups, negative control group, positive control group was fed TH (5 g / kg body weight) orally, the untreated group was infected with Staphylococcus aureus to induce respiratory infection, the treated group has been infected with S. aureus followed by treatment with TH at a dose of 1.5 108 CFU / mL and the preventive group ingested TH one week before S. aureus infection. Blood was obtained for biochemical analysis. Lung tissues have been collected for molecular examination. The results showed a significant decrease in serum levels of ALT, AST, urea and creatinine in the preventive and treated groups, serum IgG increased significantly (P<0.05) in the preventive and treated groups, IFN-y increased in the preventive group while decreased in the treated group, and IL-8 increased in the treated group while decreased in the preventive  group.  The mRNA expression of AGP is up-regulated in  the positive control, preventive and treated groups. The α2-MG, TNF-α , and mRNA expressions showed lower regulation after administration of TH in preventive and treated groups. The results show the ability of TH to counteract immune and inflammatory changes in serum levels and gene expressions.