Antioxidant, mitogenic and immunomodulatory potentials of acacia honey

Introduction: This study was primarily designed to investigate the antioxidant, immunomodulatory and mitogenic properties of acacia honey. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential was evaluated by luminoland lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence assays, whereas the mitogenic potential was evaluated using cytochalasin B-blocked micronucleus and mitotic index assays in vitro from whole blood, neutrophils, macrophages and peripheral lymphocytes. Superoxide anion and DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as reducing power were evaluated to further underscore the antioxidant property of acacia honey. Results: Dose-dependent (p<0.05) inhibition of the intensity of luminol- and lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence was observed with different concentrations of honey versus control with IC₅₀s of 0.75%, 0.2%, and 0.24% and <0.125% (v/v) for whole blood, neutrophils and macrophages, respectively. Mitotic index, however, decreased significantly (p<0.05) only at a low concentration but increased significantly at high doses compared with control. Similar results were obtained for both nuclear division and cytokinesis-block proliferation indices. The cytotoxicity index decreased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, acacia honey induced significant dose-dependent inhibition of DPPH (IC₅₀ of 1.58%) and superoxide anion (IC₅₀ of 2.15%) radicals. The reducing power of honey increased with increasing concentrations. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the antioxidant, mitogenic and immunomodulatory properties of acacia honey.