The vascular protective effects of trihoney in hypercholesterolemic atherosclerotic rabbits, a comparative study with atorvastatin

Figures & data

Table 1. Comparison of percentage of atherosclerotic aortic lesions.

Group	Aortic Lesion Area Percentage (%)
C	0.03 ± 0.02^a
C + H	0.00 ± 0.00^a
HCD	76.09 ± 6.66^b
HCD+H1	44.77 ± 14.47^c
HCD+H2	14.30 ± 6.88^a,c
HCD+At	29.11 ± 18.23^c

Values are mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the mean (n = 5). The results of all experiment groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey HSD Post Hoc test. Mean difference is considered significant at (p < 0.05). ^a,b,c Values not sharing a common superscript letter within the same column differ significantly at p < 0.05. C = Control, C + H = Control group received honey, HCD = High cholesterol diet, HCD+H1 and HCD+H2 are atherogenic groups received honey dose of 0.3 and 0.6 g/kg respectively, HCD+At = Atherogenic group received atorvastatin dose of 2 mg/kg.

Table 2. Correlation (r) between aortic lesion area percentage, serum lipid profile and oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

	TC (mmol/L)	LDL-c (mmol/L)	TC/HDL ratio	Serum Ox-LDL (µmol/mL)
Aortic Lesion Area Percentage (%)	r = 0.622** p = 0.000	r = 0.620** p = 0.000	r = 0.519** p = 0.003	r = 0.693** p = 0.002

Values are the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between aortic lesion area percentage (%) of the all experimental groups (N = 30, n = 5) and lipid profile parameters at week 12. N = Total sample for correlation. n = Total sample number per experimental group. Total cholesterol (TC). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Cardiovascular disease risk ratio (TC/HDL). Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). [** = Correlation is significant p at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)].

Figure 1. Effect of trihoney on quantity of atherosclerotic plaques.

Study using Sudan IV staining. Thick arrow indicating the atherosclerotic lesion. Control Group (C). High Cholesterol Diet Group (HCD). Group Received Trihoney 0.3/kg/day (HCD+H1). Group Received Trihoney 0.6/kg/day (HCD+H2). Group Received Atorvastatin 2 mg/kg/day (HCD+At).

Table 3. Comparison of atherosclerotic plaque thickness, and tunica intima/Tunica media thickness ratio.

Group	Tunica Intima (Atherosclerotic Plaque) Thickness (µm)	Tunica Intima/Tunica Media Thickness
C	12.08 ± 2.45^a	0.04 ± 0.00^a
C + H	14.97 ± 2.64^a	0.04 ± 0.00^a
HCD	716.20 ± 117.22^b	2.26 ± 0.82^b
HCD+H1	401.42 ± 102.88^c	0.88 ± 0.10^a,c
HCD+H2	448.26 ± 193.58^c	1.18 ± 0.45^c
HCD+At	441.38 ± 186.94^c	1.08 ± 0.53^c

Values are mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the mean (n = 5). The results of all experiment groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey HSD Post Hoc test. Mean difference is considered significant at (p < 0.05). ^{a, b, c} Values not sharing a common superscript letter within the same column differ significantly at p < 0.05. C = Control, C + H = Control group received honey, HCD = High cholesterol diet, HCD+H1 and HCD+H2 are atherogenic groups received honey dose of 0.3 and 0.6 g/kg respectively, HCD+At = Atherogenic group received atorvastatin dose of 2 mg/kg.

Table 4. Correlation (r) between atherosclerotic plaque thickness, tunica intima/Tunica media thickness ratio and serum lipid profile.

	TC (mmol/L)	LDL-c (mmol/L)	TC/HDL ratio
Atherosclerotic Plaque Thickness (µm)	r = 801** p = 0.000	r = 792** p = 0.000	r = 401* p = 0.028
Tunica Intima/Tunica Media Thickness Ratio	r = 738** p = 0.000	r = 741** p = 0.000	r = 596** p = 0.001

Values are the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between atherosclerotic plaque thickness (µm), tunica intima/tunica media thickness ratio of the all experimental groups (N = 30, n = 5) and lipid profile parameters at week 12. N = Total sample for correlation. n = Total sample number per experimental group. Total cholesterol (TC), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), Cardiovascular disease risk ratio (TC/HDL). [* = Correlation is significant p at the 0.05 level, ** = Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)].

Figure 2. Photomicrographs of aorta H&E staining.

Control Group (C). High Cholesterol Diet Group (HCD). Group Received Trihoney 0.3/kg/day (HCD+H1). Group Received Trihoney 0.6/kg/day (HCD+H2). Group Received Atorvastatin 2 mg/kg/day (HCD+At).

Figure 3. Study of atherosclerotic plaque using special stains demonstrating collagen and elastic tissues.

Photomicrograph of Aorta Histology from Control Group (C). High Cholesterol Diet Group (HCD). Group Received Trihoney 0.3/kg/day (HCD+H1). Group Received Trihoney 0.6/kg/day (HCD+H2). Group Received Atorvastatin 2 mg/kg/day (HCD+At). MT stain (A), VGS stain (B). 50× magnification. High power section (200× magnification) demonstrated at right lower angle.