Ameliorative Potential of Medicinal Honey on Cytarabine-Induced Toxicity: An In Vivo Study

Abstract

Despite their effectiveness in cancer management and treatment, chemotherapeutic agents are often associated with significant adverse effects. Cytarabine, widely used in leukemia and other malignancies, can induce hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hematological disturbances, and oxidative stress, which limits its clinical usefulness. Given the growing evidence that the therapeutic value of honey largely depends on its phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity, this study evaluated the therapeutic properties of honey samples with different phenolic strengths against cytarabine-induced toxicity in rats. Forty-eight Wistar rats were allocated into eight groups and treated with cytarabine with or without weak, medium, or strong honey. Cytarabine administration significantly elevated serum markers of liver and kidney injuries, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted hematological indices. Cotreatment with honey—particularly the strong sample—substantially mitigated these effects by lowering ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and LDH levels, improving antioxidant status (FRAP, DPPH, and MDA), and restoring WBC, RBC, and platelet counts. Histopathological evaluations confirmed reduced hepatic and renal tissue damage in honey-treated groups. These findings demonstrate that medicinal honey rich in phenolic compounds provides measurable systemic protection against cytarabine toxicity and may serve as a promising natural adjuvant during chemotherapy.