Therapeutic Effects Of Honey And Bee Venom On Blood Parameters, Liver And Kidney Function Markers, And Histopathological Changes In Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity In Albino Rats

Abstract

A popular chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive drug, methotrexate (MTX), has restricted clinical utility due to its hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hematological suppression. Natural bioactive substances, like honey and bee venom, may have therapeutic promise as molecules that counteract MTX-induced toxicity since they are known to have immunomodulatory, anti- inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that can be therapeutic for reducing MTX-induced toxicity. This study aimed to see if honey and bee venom could shield albino rats from the toxicity of MTX. Animals were randomly assigned into five groups: normal control, MTX-treated, honey plus methotrexate-treated, bee-venom plus methotrexate treated, and combination-treated (honey plus bee venom plus methotrexate). Various parameters like body weight, liver function markers (Total protein, SGPT, SGOT, ALP, albumin, bilirubin), kidney function markers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), hematological indices (WBCs, RBCs, platelets, % hemoglobin (Hb), and mean values MCV, MCH and MCHC), and histopathology of liver and kidney were performed. Administration of MTX significantly increased liver and kidney function markers, as well as decreased hematological indices. The liver albumin was significantly decreased in the MTX group and treatment with honey and bee venom played a protective role. Honey and bee venom treatment resulted in significant improvements in all parameters and the combined effect of honey and bee venom with the drug marked most protective effects. It was shown that honey and bee venom possess hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and myeloproliferative effects and therefore might be therapeutically indicated. The histopathological damage caused by methotrexate on liver and kidney was reversed with the treatment of honey and bee venom where the combined treatment had a synergistic effect in restoring the normal histology of both the organs. The findings indicate that honey and bee venom show their equivalent protection against MTX toxicity when combined. These results suggest that they may be useful as adjunct therapeutic agents to reduce the adverse effects of MTX treatment. Molecular mechanisms and clinical validation are yet to be explored in future research.