Effects of honey as a scolicidal agent on the hepatobiliary system

Aim: To examine the effects of 10% diluted honey, which has been shown to be scolicidal, on the liver and biliary system and determine whether it could be used as a scolicidal agent in the presence of biliary-cystic communication. Methods: Thirty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups. Honey with 10% dilution in the study group and 0.9% saline (NaCl) in the control group were injected into the common bile ducts of rats through a 3-mm duodenotomy. The animals were sacrificed 6 mo after the procedure. Histopathological, biochemical, and radiological examinations were performed for evaluation of side effects. Results: At the end of the sixth month, liver function tests were found to be normal in both groups. The tissue samples of liver and ductus choledochus of the honey group showed no histomorphologic difference from the control group. No stricture on the biliary tree was detected on the retrograde cholangiograms. Conclusion: According to these results, we concluded that 10% diluted honey could be used as scolicidal agent safely in the presence of biliary-cystic communication. © 2008 WJG. All rights reserved.