Abstract
CsA is currently extensively utilized in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation, though, with long-term use it leads to severe pulmonary toxicity via oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue remodelling. Honey has the reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can combat such damage. This paper bases its findings on the protective properties of natural honey on CsA-induced lung injury in rats using histopathological, biochemical, and semi-quantitative scoring methodologies. Twenty-four male albinos were placed in three groups (n = 8) which were CsA (25 mg/kg/day), Control, and CsA + Honey (5 g/kg/day). There was oral medication of treatment over 21 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of lung tissue, measurement of serum C- reactive protein (CRP) and lung superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were done. CsA had a pronounced effect on increasing inflammatory infiltration, congestion, hemorrhage and type II injury of pneumocyte and aggravating CRP and inhibiting SOD activity. Synergetic application of honey had significant numbers of alleviation of these pathological changes and amelioration of biochemical indicators. Honey showed a high histoprotective activity, indicating that it should be considered as a complementary therapeutic agent to reduce CsA-induced pulmonary toxicity.