The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity, hepatic protective, and metabolic effects of Sidr and Talh honey, two Saudi honey, in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and examined some possible mechanisms of their action.MethodsAdult rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8 each) and w...

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Main Authors: Abdullah Al Tamim, Ghedeir M. Alshammari, Abu ElGasim A. Yagoub, Ali Saleh, Mohammed A. Mohammed, Mohammed Abdo Yahya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1582408/full
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author Abdullah Al Tamim
Ghedeir M. Alshammari
Abu ElGasim A. Yagoub
Ali Saleh
Mohammed A. Mohammed
Mohammed Abdo Yahya
author_facet Abdullah Al Tamim
Ghedeir M. Alshammari
Abu ElGasim A. Yagoub
Ali Saleh
Mohammed A. Mohammed
Mohammed Abdo Yahya
author_sort Abdullah Al Tamim
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity, hepatic protective, and metabolic effects of Sidr and Talh honey, two Saudi honey, in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and examined some possible mechanisms of their action.MethodsAdult rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8 each) and were administered HFD for 12 weeks, with or without oral doses of Sidr or Talh honey at 500, 700, and 1,000 mg/kg.Results and DiscussionTalh honey significantly reduced body weight, fat mass, and adiposity markers, including mesenteric, subcutaneous, and epididymal fat, compared to the HFD group. It also improved plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1C, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-c, and increased adiponectin. Sidr honey showed no effects on the majority of these factors, except it was able to lower glucose, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR, but was less effective than Talh honey. Both honeys reduced hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol, but Talh honey had superior effects on liver enzymes (ALT, AST, γ-GTT), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, SOD). Talh honey also enhanced hepatic nuclear Nrf2 levels and AMPK signaling in the liver and white adipose tissue. These findings indicate that Talh honey exhibits more potent anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects than Sidr honey, likely via modulation of AMPK and Nrf2 pathways.
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spelling doaj-art-74e79f43ede342d0b9656779f3bf91ae2025-08-20T03:46:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-08-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15824081582408The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat dietAbdullah Al TamimGhedeir M. AlshammariAbu ElGasim A. YagoubAli SalehMohammed A. MohammedMohammed Abdo YahyaIntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity, hepatic protective, and metabolic effects of Sidr and Talh honey, two Saudi honey, in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and examined some possible mechanisms of their action.MethodsAdult rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8 each) and were administered HFD for 12 weeks, with or without oral doses of Sidr or Talh honey at 500, 700, and 1,000 mg/kg.Results and DiscussionTalh honey significantly reduced body weight, fat mass, and adiposity markers, including mesenteric, subcutaneous, and epididymal fat, compared to the HFD group. It also improved plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1C, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-c, and increased adiponectin. Sidr honey showed no effects on the majority of these factors, except it was able to lower glucose, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR, but was less effective than Talh honey. Both honeys reduced hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol, but Talh honey had superior effects on liver enzymes (ALT, AST, γ-GTT), inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, SOD). Talh honey also enhanced hepatic nuclear Nrf2 levels and AMPK signaling in the liver and white adipose tissue. These findings indicate that Talh honey exhibits more potent anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects than Sidr honey, likely via modulation of AMPK and Nrf2 pathways.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1582408/fullTalh honeySidr honeyobesityhigh-fat dietAMPKNrf2
spellingShingle Abdullah Al Tamim
Ghedeir M. Alshammari
Abu ElGasim A. Yagoub
Ali Saleh
Mohammed A. Mohammed
Mohammed Abdo Yahya
The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
Frontiers in Nutrition
Talh honey
Sidr honey
obesity
high-fat diet
AMPK
Nrf2
title The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
title_full The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
title_fullStr The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
title_full_unstemmed The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
title_short The protective effect of Saudi Arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity-related parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet
title_sort protective effect of saudi arabian bee honey against excessive weight gain and obesity related parameters in rats fed a high fat diet
topic Talh honey
Sidr honey
obesity
high-fat diet
AMPK
Nrf2
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1582408/full
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