Effect of honey supplementation on heamatological parameters of wistar albino rats fed hydrocarbon contaminated diets

The effects of dietary supplementation with natural honey on haematological profile, blood sugar and final body weight of rats fed diets contaminated with hydrocarbon petroleum products (gasoline and kerosene) were evaluated in this study. There was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in haemoglobin (Hb) content, red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and platelet count but a significant increase in white blood cell count (WBCC) in rats fed gasoline and kerosene contaminated diet compared to the control rats. Gasoline and kerosene contaminated diet also resulted in significant (P<0.05) decrease in blood sugar and final body weight of rats as compared to the control. Supplementation of diet and post treatment with natural honey significantly (P<0.05) restored Hb content, RBC, PCV, platelet and WBCC close to control values. Although supplementation of gasoline and kerosene contaminated diet did not substantially improve the final body weight and percentage increase in weight, post treatment with natural honey significantly (P<0.05) improved the blood glucose, final body weight and percentage increase in weight of rats compared to rats fed gasoline and kerosene contaminated diet only. These findings indicate that natural honey has ameliorative effect on gasoline and kerosene induced haematotoxicity, hypoglycaemia and weight loss.