Effect of honey on killing power and nitric oxide production in peritoneal macrophage against Aspergillus fumigatus in BALB/c mice

In recent years, immunocompromised patients are at high risk for the development of invasive aspergillosis. Due to the increase of antimicrobial resistance, natural agents with medicinal and immunomodulatory effects has gained more attention. Honey is a natural substance with documented antimicrobial, anti-inflamatory and wound healing effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of three Iranian kinds of honey on Killing Power and Nitric Oxide Production in Peritoneal Macrophage in BALB/c mice. Male BALB/c mice were gavaged with three different kinds of honey for a 10-day period. Then the mice were euthanized and their peritoneal macrophages were cultured. Macrophage killing and nitric oxide production was evaluated. Our results showed that honey could significantly increase the killing power of macrophage which was significantly higher than in control group (p<0.05). Nitric oxide production in groups treated by northern and central honey was lower than the control group, whereas in groups treated by southern and mixed honey nitric oxide production was significantly higher than control group (p<0.05). LPS stimuli had no significant effect on neither macrophage killing nor nitric oxide production (p>0.05). In conclusion, honey could act as an immunomodulator during Aspergillus fumigatus infections.