Mintage Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2320-3315)

Author(s): ENEGIDE CHINEDU1*, DAVID AROME1, DABUM LUKA JACOB2

Background: Cancer  is  a  significant  health  problem  and  also  a  majorcause  of  death  in  both  developing  and  developed  countries  all  over  the  world.  The  World  Health Organization (WHO) has ranked it among the leading causes of death, as about 7.4 million (13%) deaths in 2004 were as a result of cancer. Chemoprevention simplyrefers to  the  use  of  pharmacological or  dietary  agents  to  prevent  induction,  inhibit  or  even  delay  the  advancement  of  cancer.  These agents  should  have  antiproliferative  or  even cytostatic effect to achieve this aim. There have been recent claims of various naturally occurring products having anticancer effect, with honey being one of these products Aim:The aim of  this  study  is  to evaluate  if  Nigerian honey  has antiproliferative  and  cytostatic  potentials. Materials and Method:Honey  solutions  A-E wereprepared  from pure honey. The study was carried-out on rapidly proliferating seeds (Sorghum bicolor) and the mean radicle lengths (mm) were taken after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Results:The seeds treated with methotrexate showed a remarkable retarded radicle growth compared to control. While those treated with honey solutions A-C showed a high degree of inhibition of proliferation of the seeds radicle. Their effects were significant (P<0.05) at 48 and 72 hours. Honey solutions D and E showed a total cytostatic effect on the seeds throughout the study. Conclusion:The study reveals that Nigerian honey has a potential for causing antiproliferative and cytostatic effects on rapidly proliferating cells.