Ethylacetate Flavonoid Bio-compounds of Honey with Mitigating Anti-hyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Properties in Carbohydrate and Lipid Enriched Diets – Obese Rats

Honey is a rich material source of medicinal nutrients. This study investigated the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of honey, 50% fresh lime juice, and 50% honey (MIX) and ethylacetate flavonoid-rich fraction of honey (EAFH) in carbohydrate and lipid-enriched diets-obese rats.

At phase 1, 54 male neonate Wistar albino rats were, divided into 3 groups of 18 rats. Groups 2 and 3 were fed a carbohydrate-enriched diet (CHD) and lipid-enriched diet (LP) for 14 days, and rats with Lee index ≥ 0.3 were considered obese. Rats (phase-2) were regrouped into 7 groups of 6 rats, and treated with honey, MIX, and EAFH. Flavonoids bio-compounds in EAFH characterized by HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography) include; gallic acid, epigallocatechin, napthoresorcinol, and quercetin. Lee's index after obesity induction was ≥ 0.3. Adiposity index, diet intake, and body and organ weight of obese rats were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after honey, MIX, and EAFH treatments compared to control. Significant (p < 0.05) decreased concentrations of glucose, leptin, insulin, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) coenzyme A (CoA) reductase activity (HMGCOARA), atherogenic risk index (ARI) and coronary risk index (CRI) and increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) after treatment with honey, MIX and EAFH was observed compared control and AOI. Antioxidant parameters of obese rats were significantly (p < 0.05) improved compared to control and AOI rats. Honey could serve as a model pharmacotherapy for treating dyslipidemia and oxidative stress linked to obesity.