Biochemical and Histological Evaluation of Protective Effect of Royal Jelly on Pancreas-Induced Oxidative Stress in Male Rat Pancreas

Background and Bleomycin is a chemotherapic antibiotic used for treatment of human cancers. Royal jelly is secreted from the hypopharyngeal glands of nurse bees and consists of 66% water, 15% sugars, 5% lipids and 13% proteins, essential amino acids and different vitamins. 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid is a kind of special active substance which exists only in royal jelly in the nature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Royal jelly on bleomycin-induced oxidative stress and damages in adult male rat pancreas. Forty adult male Wistar rats (220±20gr) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10). Control group (CG): received normal saline10 mg / kg twice a week with IP for 48 days. Royal Jelly group (RJG): received Royal jelly at dose of 100 mg/kg daily for 48 days orally. Bleomycin Group (BLG): the rats received BL at dose of 10 mg/kg twice a week with IP for 48 days. Royal Jelly+ Bleomycin Group (RJ+BLG): received Royal Jelly at dose of 100 mg/kg /day orally concomitant with BL administration. Finally, the performance of antioxidants in pancreas tissue homogenates was measured and pathological studies were applied to evaluate the different levels of pancreatic damage. In rats that received Bleomycin and Royal jelly, Royal jelly decreased lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant levels significantly. Royal jelly improved tissue damage induced by Bleomycin. The results indicate that Royal jelly, due to its antioxidant properties, protects rat pancreases against toxic effects of Bleomycin.