Investigation of the Antidiabetic Effects of Bee Bread (Perga) in Diabetic Rats: A Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, and Biochemical Study

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health concern. Bee bread (Perga), rich in bioactive compounds, has gained attention in apitherapy for its potential therapeutic properties. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic potential of bee bread in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats through histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses. A total of 40 male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, perga (0.5 g/kg), diabetes (STZ, 55 mg/kg), diabetes+perga (STZ, 55 mg/kg+perga, 0.5 g/kg), and diabetes+acarbose (STZ, 55 mg/kg+acarbose, 20 mg/kg). Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal STZ injection. Perga and acarbose were administered daily via oral gavage throughout the experiment. Blood glucose levels were monitored periodically from tail vein samples. Pancreatic tissues were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, total cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, urea, and glucose were analyzed using an automated analyzer with commercial kits. STZ administration resulted in marked pancreatic damage and a significant decrease in insulin expression. Biochemical analyses revealed notable diabetes-related alterations. Perga treatment partially alleviated hyperglycemia, improved pancreatic histopathology, and enhanced insulin immunoexpression. However, adverse alterations in liver enzyme levels were observed in the Perga-treated diabetic group. These findings suggest that bee bread may exert only limited antidiabetic effects in STZ-induced experimental diabetes. Nevertheless, the observed hepatic effects warrant further comprehensive studies to clarify the safety and efficacy of bee bread as an antidiabetic agent.

Keywords

• Bee Bread (Perga)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Streptozotocin (STZ)
• Antidiabetic Effect
• Histopathology
• Immunohistochemistry

Diyabetik Sıçanlarda Arı Ekmeğinin (Perga) Antidiyabetik Etkilerinin Araştırılması: Histopatolojik, İmmünohistokimyasal ve Biyokimyasal Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunu olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Biyoaktif bileşenler açısından zengin olan arı ekmeği (Perga), apiterapide potansiyel tedavi edici etkileri nedeniyle ilgi görmektedir. Bu çalışmada, streptozotosin (STZ) ile oluşturulan deneysel diyabet modelinde arı ekmeğinin antidiyabetik potansiyelinin histopatolojik, immünohistokimyasal ve biyokimyasal olarak değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada 40 adet erkek Wistar albino sıçanı rastgele beş gruba ayrılmıştır: Kontrol, perga (0.5 g/kg), diyabet (STZ, 55 mg/kg), diyabet+perga (STZ, 55 mg/kg+perga, 0.5 g/kg) ve diyabet+akarboz (STZ, 55 mg/kg+akarboz, 20 mg/kg). Diyabet, tek doz STZ enjeksiyonu ile indüklenmiştir. Perga ve akarboz uygulamaları deney süresi boyunca günlük olarak gastrik gavaj yöntemiyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deney süresince belirli aralıklarla kuyruk veninden kan glukoz düzeyleri ölçülmüş; deney sonunda pankreas dokuları histopatolojik ve immünohistokimyasal olarak incelenmiştir. Serumda ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, total kolesterol, trigliserid, kreatinin, üre ve glukoz düzeyleri otoanalizör ve ticari kitler kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. STZ uygulaması, pankreas dokusunda belirgin histopatolojik lezyonlara ve immunohistokimyasal olarak insülin ekspresyonunda anlamlı azalmaya yol açmıştır. Biyokimyasal analizlerde diyabete bağlı olarak önemli değişiklikler gözlenmiştir. Perga uygulaması, hiperglisemiyi kısmen baskılayarak kan glukoz düzeylerinde azalma sağlamış; pankreatik histopatolojik bulgularda ve insülin immunekspresyonunda iyileştirici etkiler göstermiştir. Ancak, perga ile tedavi grubunda karaciğer enzim düzeylerinde olumsuz değişiklikler saptanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, perganın STZ ile oluşturulan deneysel diyabet modelinde yalnızca sınırlı antidiyabetik etkiler gösterebileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bununla birlikte, karaciğer üzerine gözlemlenen etkiler dikkate alındığında, perganın antidiyabetik etkinliğinin ve güvenirliliğinin daha ileri çalışmalarla desteklenmesi gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Arı Ekmeği (Perga)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Streptozotosin (STZ)
• Antidiyabetik Etki
• Histopatoloji
• İmmünohistokimya

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