Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats

Nour Mamdouh; Yomna Elhelbawy

doi:10.35206/jan.1902924

EN

Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats

Abstract

Background: ‏Bee pollen is a nutrient-rich natural product with potential health benefits, but its role in obesity management remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of bee pollen on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalance, and oxidative stress in rats. Methods: ‏Sixty male albino rats were divided into six groups (n=10): Control (standard diet), HFD control, preventive (bee pollen 100 mg/kg + HFD), and three therapeutic groups (HFD + bee pollen 200, 100, or 50 mg/kg). After 8 weeks, body weight, serum lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL), appetite-regulating hormones (leptin, ghrelin), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx), and histopathology of liver and pancreas were assessed. Results: ‏HFD control rats exhibited significant weight gain, dyslipidemia (↑cholesterol, ↑triglycerides, ↑LDL, ↓HDL), hormonal disruption (significant reductions in both leptin and ghrelin levels), and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities compared to controls. Bee pollen supplementation, particularly at higher doses (200 mg/kg), significantly ameliorated these alterations in a generally dose-related manner. The 200 mg/kg dose restored lipid profile, hormone levels, and antioxidant defense toward normal, and markedly improved histopathological changes in the liver and pancreas. Conclusions: ‏Bee pollen exerts dose-dependent preventive and therapeutic effects against HFD-induced metabolic disturbances, supporting its potential as a functional food for obesity management.

Keywords

Bee Pollen, ‏Obesity, High-fat diet, Lipid profile, Leptin, Ghrelin

Ethical Statement

This animal study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Alexandria University, Egypt. The approval was granted during the monthly meeting held on February 6, 2024, under the faculty code 0924020611 (MS-1). All experimental procedures were carried out in accordance with the Directive on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics of Higher Education Institutions and the guidelines of the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Food Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Nour Mamdouh This is me
0009-0002-1193-0011
Egypt

Yomna Elhelbawy ^*
0009-0007-6817-1120
Egypt

Publication Date

May 17, 2026

Submission Date

March 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1902924

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA45NA93SL

APA

Mamdouh, N., & Elhelbawy, Y. (2026). Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, 9(1), 95-112. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1902924

AMA

1.Mamdouh N, Elhelbawy Y. Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats. J.Apit.Nat. 2026;9(1):95-112. doi:10.35206/jan.1902924

Chicago

Mamdouh, Nour, and Yomna Elhelbawy. 2026. “Mechanistic Insights into the Protective and Therapeutic Roles of Egyptian Bee Pollen: Modulation of Leptin Ghrelin Signaling and Oxidative Stress in Obese Rats”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 (1): 95-112. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1902924.

EndNote

Mamdouh N, Elhelbawy Y (May 1, 2026) Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 1 95–112.

IEEE

[1]N. Mamdouh and Y. Elhelbawy, “Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats”, J.Apit.Nat., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 95–112, May 2026, doi: 10.35206/jan.1902924.

ISNAD

Mamdouh, Nour - Elhelbawy, Yomna. “Mechanistic Insights into the Protective and Therapeutic Roles of Egyptian Bee Pollen: Modulation of Leptin Ghrelin Signaling and Oxidative Stress in Obese Rats”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9/1 (May 1, 2026): 95-112. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1902924.

JAMA

1.Mamdouh N, Elhelbawy Y. Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats. J.Apit.Nat. 2026;9:95–112.

MLA

Mamdouh, Nour, and Yomna Elhelbawy. “Mechanistic Insights into the Protective and Therapeutic Roles of Egyptian Bee Pollen: Modulation of Leptin Ghrelin Signaling and Oxidative Stress in Obese Rats”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, vol. 9, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 95-112, doi:10.35206/jan.1902924.

Vancouver

1.Nour Mamdouh, Yomna Elhelbawy. Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats. J.Apit.Nat. 2026 May 1;9(1):95-112. doi:10.35206/jan.1902924

e-ISSN: 2667-4734 Publication Model: Continuous Publication Citation Indexes: TR Dizin

Abstract

Mechanistic insights into the protective and therapeutic roles of egyptian bee pollen: modulation of leptin/ghrelin signaling and oxidative stress in obese rats

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