Honey betters microflora, reduces toxicity of mycotoxins

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Honey betters microflora, reduces toxicity of mycotoxins

By Aly M Ezz El-Arab , Shenouda M Girgis , Eman M Hegazy and Azzat B

Abd El-Khalek

Mar 30, 2006, 00:44

Lisle,IL

http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/Honey_betters_microflora_reduces_to

xicity_of_mycotoxins.shtml

Research article

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of

mycotoxins in mice

Aly M Ezz El-Arab , Shenouda M Girgis , Eman M Hegazy and Azzat B

Abd El-Khalek

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006, 6:6

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-6

Published 14 March 2006

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition,

antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess

whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the

present study was undertaken.

Methods

Production of biomass and toxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and

Aspergillus ochraceus were followed in media without and with honey.

Although aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. were administrated to male

Swiss albino mice up to 1ug and 10 ng /kg body weight / day

respectively. The experimental animals were fed diets without our

with 10% honey for two months. The changes in colonic probiotic

bacteria, determintal colon enzyme glucuronidases, and genotoxicity

were followed.

Results

Addition of 32% in its media increased the biomass of A parasiticus,

while the biomass of A. ochraceus decreased and Ochratoxin A. was

not produced. When the honey was added at the ratio of 32 and 48% in

the medium. No relationship was found between mycelium weight and

production of mycotoxins. Oral administration of aflatoxins (mixture

of B1, B2, G1 and G2 ) and Ochratoxin A. induced structural and

numerical chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and germ cells of

male mice. Also both toxins induced histopathological changes in

liver and kidney. Feeding on diet supplemented with honey improved

the histopathological changes in case of aflatoxin group, but not in

the case of ochratoxin A. group (except of kidney in two cases). No

significant differences were found in the activity of colon -

glucuronidase between group fed diet with or without honey. On the

other hand, the colon bifido bacteria and lactobacilli counts were

increased markedly in group receiving diet supplemented with honey.

Conclusions

Substituting sugars with honey in processed food can inhibit the

harmful effect of mycotoxins, and improve the gut microflora

Source: http://www.biomedcentral.com/