Bee bread attenuates high fat diet induced renal pathology in obese rats via modulation of oxidative stress, downregulation of NF-kB mediated inflammation and Bax signalling

Abstract

Context

Global prevalence of obesity is increasing.

Objective

To study the effect of bee bread (BB) on serum renal function parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory and B-cell associated protein X (Bax) in the kidneys of high fat diet (HFD) obese rats.

Methods

Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Control: received rat diet and water (1 mL/kg); HFD group: received HFD and water (1 mL/kg): bee bread (BB) preventive or orlistat preventive: received HFD and BB (0.5 g/kg) or HFD and orlistat (10 mg/kg); BB or orlistat treatment: received BB (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg).

Results

HFD group had increased body weight, Body Mass Index, Lee Obesity Indices, kidney weights, malondialdehyde, inflammatory markers, Bax; decreased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant activity, no differences (p > .05) in food intakes, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, catalase compared to control.

Conclusion

BB modulated most of these parameters, as corroborated by histology.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• renal dysfunction
• nutrition
• oxidative stress
• antioxidants

Acknowledgements

The assistance we received from the technical staff of the Departments of Physiology, Pathology and the Central Research Laboratory, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia, is also acknowledged. We also acknowledge Universiti Sains Malaysia Post-Doctoral Fellowship awarded to Dr Chinedum Eleazu.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Universiti Sains Malaysia Research Grant (1001.PPSP.8012251).