Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Tualang Honey in Alkali Chemical Injury on The Eyes of Rabbits

Zunaina Embong

Purpose: To study the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation products) of Tualang honey versus conventional treatment in alkali chemical injury on the eyes of rabbits.

Methods: Alkali chemical injury was induced in the right eye of 10 New Zealand White rabbits' cornea (Group A = 5 rabbits, Group B = 5 rabbits). Group A was given conventional treatment and Group B was treated with both topical and oral Tualang honey. Clinical features of the right eye were recorded at 12 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours, 5th day and 7th day. The histopathological findings of the right corneas of all rabbits were also evaluated on day-7. The level of total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation products in the aqueous humour, vitreous humour and serum at day-7 were estimated biochemically.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in clinical inflammatory features (p > 0.05) between honey treated and the conventional treated group at different times of examination. There was also no significant difference in the level of total antioxidant status as well as lipid peroxidation products in aqueous humour (p = 0.117, p = 0.382 respectively), vitreous humour (p = 0.917, p = 0.248 respectively) and serum (p = 0.917, p = 0.332 respectively) between honey treated and the conventional treated group.

Conclussions: Tualang honey has almost the equal effects when compared with the conventional treatment in treating alkali chemical injury on rabbit's eye.