Honey and Vitamin E protect the developing cerebellum against alcohol-induced oxidative damage in rat

Abstract

Background: Prenatal and postnatal exposure to ethanol induces oxidative stress by generation office radicals. The protective effect of honey and vitamin E on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the developing rat cerebellum was studied. Method: Twenty-five pregnant Westar rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 animals served as the Controls and received distilled water, Group II received only alcohol, Group III received honey only, Group IV received honey with alcohol and Group V received Vitamin E with alcohol. Ten percent (10%) alcohol at a dose of 1.6 g/kg body weight, vitamin E at 500 mg/kg body weight and honey at 1.5 ml/kg body weight were administered orally in pre- and postnatal life. The pups were sacrificed on days 1, 7, 14. 21 and 28. Hematological, behavioral, oxidative stress, gross morphometric as well as histomorphometric evaluations were done. Results: Results showed decrease d cerebellar weights, alteration in behavior, decrease d percentage neutrophil and eosinophil numbers, increased white blood cell count, increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and a decreased glutathione (GSH) levels in the alcohol-treated rats compared with the control group at p