Investigation of the toxic effects of rhododendron honey on mouse cardiac muscle tissue lipids at molecular level

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different concentrations of Rhododendron honey (RH) on mouse cardiac muscle lipids by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy at molecular level. For this purpose, a total of eighteen male Mus musculus mice were divided into three groups of six animals each, one being the control group and the others being the 25 and 50 mg/kg of RH-treated groups. RH was given via gavage and the cardiac muscles of these mice were investigated 24 h after the administration. The results revealed that 25 mg/kg of RH did not cause any significant effect except lipid peroxidation. However, 50 mg/kg RH caused increases in the amounts of saturated and unsaturated lipids, in the ratios of lipid/protein and CH2/CH3 and a decrease in the CH3/lipid which all indicate a change in the lipid metabolism of the tissue. Moreover, the treatment with 50 mg/kg of RH caused lipid peroxidation, a decrease in lipid order and an increase in membrane dynamic. These results revealed that RH causes significant toxic effects on cardiac muscle tissue lipids and these effects are dose-dependent.

Keywords

• rhododendron honey
• mad honey
• atr-ftir spectroscopy
• heart
• cardiac muscle
• lipid