Animal Model Of Allergic Rhinitis And Therapeutic Effect Of Honey In Allergic Rhinitis

Numerous animal models are developed in order to describe pathophysiology of the allergic rhinitis and to find alternative treatment. One of the substances used in the literature to improve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis is honey. Mechanisms of honey to accomplish this effect have not yet been explained. In this study, the aim was creating allergic rhinitis in rats, and evaluating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of allergic rhinitis disease. 0.5 cc venous blood sample was taken from 6 rats. To provide sensitization, 25 µg ovalbumin, dissolved in 2.5 mg aluminum hydroxide, was injected to rats via intraperitoneal way on 0,7, and 14th days. After one week, to give rise the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, 50 µg ovalbumin were given intranasal during 7 days. 30 minutes before giving intranasal ovalbumin, 1gr/kg honey dissolved in the water was given by gavage. At the beginning and end of the experiment, serum IgE levels were determined by spectrophotometry. On the last day of the experiment the number of itching nose and sneezing of rats was counted for 10 min and compared between two groups. Itching nose and sneezing scores were lower in the honey-treated group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.513; p= 0.127). Statistical significance was found between serum total IgE levels between the two groups (p= 0.046). Allergic rhinitis model in rats using ovalbumin can be achieved within 1 month. Honey changed the serum IgE levels and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Due to the these results of preliminary study , honey can be an alternative treatment besides other treatment modalities for allergic rhinitis and further studies can be done in the future.