Honey reverses disease progression, has anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2><h3>Background</h3> Clinically, osteoarthritis manifests as joint pain with concomitant loss of joint function, which may ultimately result in a substantially reduced quality of life for the patient. Although, a lot is known about the symptom of the disease, the pathophysiology behind the structural changes is complex and poorly understood. By understanding the mechanisms driving joint tissue destruction in osteoarthritis and identifying the key factors involved, new targets for therapy are emerging that will go beyond symptomatic relief to slowing or stopping the progression of osteoarthritis. <h3>Aim</h3> Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of honey on disease progression, pain perception and inflammation in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced knee osteoarthritis in female Wistar rats. <h3>Methods</h3> Thirty, twelve-month old female Wistar rats, weighing between 200 g & 250 g, were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. Animals in group one were not induced and served as the control, while animals in groups two to five were injected with monosodium iodoacetate in the right knee. In addition, animals in group two received normal saline (1 ml/kg b.w.), group three received arthocare (glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate 6.67/8.33 mg/kg b.w.), group four received low dose honey (250 mg/kg b.w.) while group five received high dose honey (1,000 mg/kg b.w.) and were treated for twenty one days. All animals were subjected to assessment of tactile allodynia (von Frey test), acute inflammation (knee edema), and serum biomarkers: tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), prostaglandin E₂ (PG E₂) & cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) as well as histo-pathological assessment of the right knee joint. <h3>Results</h3> Honey (at high and low doses), significantly (p < 0.05) reduced tactile allodynia on von Frey test (60 ± 20g) in animals subjected to experimental knee osteoarthritis induced by MIA. Knee edema was also significantly (p < .05) reduced by both high and low doses of honey. Low dose honey significantly (p < .05) reduced he serum levels of TNF-α (61.5 ± 22 pg/ml), VEGF (31 ± 6.1 pg/ml) and COMP (41 ± 14 ng/ml) but, had no effect on the serum level of PG E₂. High dose honey on the other hand, only significantly reduced the serum level of TNF-α (87 ± 22 pg/ml) but, had no effect on the serum levels of VEGF, COMP and PG E₂. However, the administration of honey did not show any significant effect on histo-pathological features of the induced osteoarthritis. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Honey reversed disease progression and reduced pain perception as well as inflammation in MIA-induced knee osteoarthritis in female Wistar rats. However, honey had no effect on the histo-pathology of the knee joint.