Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Libyan Sidr Honey on Aspartame-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Adult Albino Rats A Histopathological Study

Nadia A. Al-Shukri; Fathia M. Senossi; Hafedah N. Elsharef N. Elsharef; Hanan S. Elsharia; Osama M. El-barasi; Samah A. K. Abdallah; Rayya G. Alsultan; Noura A. A. Alhissade; Hala Y. M. Hassan; Mohammed A. Abusharya; Samia M. Efkeren; Sana A. A. Mohammed; Eda M. A. Alshailabi

doi:10.33214/5zzyrb61

Authors

Nadia A. Al-Shukri Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Asmarya Islamic University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Fathia M. Senossi Zoology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, AL-Marj, Benghazi University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Hafedah N. Elsharef N. Elsharef Libyan Authority for Scientific Research. Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Hanan S. Elsharia Zoology Department, College of Arts and Sciences Seluq, Benghazi University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Osama M. El-barasi Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Derna, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Samah A. K. Abdallah Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research Author
Rayya G. Alsultan Biology Department, Education College for Girls. Mosul University, Iraq & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Noura A. A. Alhissade Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Derna, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author
Hala Y. M. Hassan Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Wadi Alshatti University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research Author
Mohammed A. Abusharya Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Elmergib, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research Author
Samia M. Efkeren Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research Author
Sana A. A. Mohammed Pathology and Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research Author
Eda M. A. Alshailabi Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya & Libyan Centre for Sustainable Development Research. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33214/5zzyrb61

Keywords:

Aspartame; Libyan Sidr Honey; Nephrotoxicity; Histopathology; Albino Rats

Abstract

Aspartame (ASP) is a widely used artificial sweetener that may induce renal structural alterations following chronic exposure, potentially through oxidative stress–mediated mechanisms. Sidr honey is a natural antioxidant-rich product that may provide protective effects against chemically induced organ damage. In this study, thirty adult female albino rats were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 5): control, Libyan Sidr honey (LSH, 100 mg/kg/body weight/day), ASP (75 mg/kg/body weight/day), protective (LSH for two weeks followed by ASP for four weeks), and combination (LSH and ASP concurrently for four weeks). All treatments were administered orally. At the end of the experiment, serum urea, creatinine, calcium, and uric acid were analyzed, and kidney tissues were examined histologically using a semi-quantitative scoring system. ASP induced marked renal histopathological alterations, including glomerular shrinkage, tubular epithelial degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vascular congestion. However, no significant changes were observed in serum urea, creatinine, or uric acid levels (p > 0.05). A modest but significant reduction in serum calcium was detected in the combination group (p < 0.05). Both pretreatment and concurrent LSH administration significantly ameliorated ASP-induced renal damage and preserved normal renal architecture. These findings suggest that LSH may exert protective and therapeutic effects against ASP-induced nephrotoxicity.

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