Effect of Forest Bee Honey (Apis dorsata) Supplementation on Expression of HIF-1α, SOD, and TNF-α in Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Liver Exposed to Physical Stress

Physical activity in general improves metabolic processes by stimulating muscles to contract actively, improving blood circulation, and supplying oxygen. On the other hand, it will create stressful conditions, which will increase cell damage and inflammatory responses in the liver. This study aimed to determine the effect of forest bee honey supplementation on the expression of HIF-1α, SOD, and TNF-α in rats that underwent the forced swimming test (FST) as a physical stress model. The physical activity conducted is at risk of disrupting to several organs due to the stress it causes in addition to the obtained health benefits. A total of 24 adult female rats were divided into four groups: Control (C) with FST only, (T1) FST and honey 2 g/day, (T2) FST and honey 4 g/day, (T3) FST and honey 6 g/day. A forced swimming test was conducted for five minutes per day for 14 days. The collected liver organs were histopathologically prepared by immunohistochemical staining for HIF-1α, SOD, and TNF-α proteins. The results showed that hepatic HIF-1α and TNF-α expression decreased in the honey-supplemented group, while hepatic SOD expression increased, although all three showed insignificant differences from each other. This study concludes that honey supplementation is incapable of increasing the expression of SOD as well as reducing the expression of HIF-1α and TNF-α in the liver of rats modelled by physical stress.