Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins

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Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins

in mice

*Aly M Ezz El-Arab*

<http://www.biomedcentral.com/logon/logon.asp?msg=ce>,

*Shenouda M Girgis* <http://www.biomedcentral.com/logon/logon.asp?msg=ce>,

*Eman M Hegazy* <http://www.biomedcentral.com/logon/logon.asp?msg=ce> and

*Azzat B Abd El-Khalek*

<http://www.biomedcentral.com/logon/logon.asp?msg=ce>

/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.