The immuno-modulation and anti-oxidative roles of olive oil and bee honey
following administration of crude oil to Wistar rats was investigated. Forty-eight
male Wistar rats (145-342g body weight) were divided into six groups of unequal
numbers. The rats in group I served as the control and were orally gavaged
10ml/kg body weight of distilled water; group II rats were administered 2ml/kg
body weight of olive oil; group III rats were administered 14ml/kg body weight of
Bee honey; group IV was orally gavaged 3ml/kg body weight of crude oil; group
V were administered the dose as mentioned above of olive oil and 3ml/kg body
weight of crude oil; group VI was gavaged the dose as mentioned earlier of Bee
honey and 3ml/kg body weight of crude oil for 21days. The results revealed that
crude oil markedly induced oxidative stress by significantly (p<0.05) reducing
activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity (CAT) while
significantly (p<0.05) increasing malonydialdehyde (MDA) level when compared
to control, olive oil and bee honey groups. Co-administration of olive oil and bee
honey with crude oil to groups V and VI respectively significantly elevated SOD
and CAT activities while significantly (p<0.05) reducing MDA levels when
compared with control, olive oil and bee honey groups. This study suggest that
crude oil significantly (p<0.05) increased immunoglobulin status (IgA, IgG and
IgM) compared with control, olive oil and bee honey groups. These increases
were significantly (p<0.05) reduced following co-administration of olive oil and
bee honey with crude oil to groups V and VI respectively. According to the
findings from the present study, the antioxidant properties of olive oil and bee
honey can prevent oxidative stress and immunoglobulin status disruption that
occur after administration of crude oil.
Keywords: Immuno-modulation, immunoglobulins, oxidative stress, lipid
peroxidation, crude petroleum.