Study of Functional Changes in the Liver of Male Hamsters Treated with the Antibiotic Amoxicillin and the Possible Protective Effect of Sidr Honey

The present study aimed to identify the functional changes in the liver of male hamsters treated with the antibiotic amoxicillin and to investigate the potential preventive and therapeutic effect of Sidr honey against the hepatotoxicity induced in experimental animals by the antibiotic. (28) male hamsters were used in this study, divided into 4 groups, the first group (negative control) was dosed with distilled water - the second group (positive control) was dosed with antibiotic only at a concentration of (50 mg/kg) - the third group (treated with honey as a treatment with antibiotic) was dosed daily with honey at a concentration of (2 g/kg) simultaneously with antibiotic at a concentration of (50 mg/kg) - the fourth group (treated with honey as a preventive measure then antibiotic) the individuals of this group were dosed daily with honey at a concentration of (2 g/kg) and then they were dosed with antibiotic at a concentration of (50 mg/kg) three times a week simultaneously with honey. The results of the current study showed a significant increase in the activity level of liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT, as well as albumin, bilirubin, urea, and uric acid in the positive control group (treatment with the antibiotic amoxicillin only). As for the third group, in which honey was used as a treatment, some vital parameters improved (AST, albumin, bilirubin, and uric acid), while other vital parameters remained high (ALT, ALP, GGT, and urea). As for the fourth group, which was treated with honey as a preventive measure for 3 weeks before dosing the animals with the antibiotic, there was a noticeable improvement in most vital parameters, as AST, GGT, albumin, bilirubin, uric acid, and urea decreased significantly (p<0.05). The results of microscopic examination of liver tissue in the group treated with antibiotics only showed severe damage to liver tissue, which appeared in the form of severe cellular necrosis, dilation of the walls of blood vessels, especially in the central vein, and widening and protrusion of the prominent sinusoidal blood vessels and their congestion with blood. As for the fourth group, the histological examinations improved significantly compared to the second and third groups.