Growth Performance of Albino Rats Orally Administered with Honey from Apis mellifera adansonii and Refined Sugar at Varying Levels
B. U. Ononye
*
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
C. R. Kalu
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
T. E. Okeke
Department of Biology, Alex Ekwueme, Federal University Ndufu-Aliko Ikwo, Ebonyi, Nigeria.
C. E. Akunne
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
K. C. Onyewuchi
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
K. P. Okafor
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
C. A. Chidi
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
K. M. Ugonkwo
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
O. C. Ekwebene
Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
C. A. Okoli
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China.
A. U. Akpan
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
V. O. Offor
Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
D. E. Oboho
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to find out the growth performance of albino rats orally administered with honey from Apis mellifera adansonii and refined granulated sugar at varying quantities. Twenty-five (25) healthy albino rats used in the study were grouped into five treatments based on the dose of natural honey and granulated sugar as follow: T1 (1.02g of honey kg BW), T2 (1.40g of honey kg BW), T3 (1.02g of granulated sugar kg BW), and T4 (1.40g of granulated sugar kg BW). However, rats in T5 were not administered honey and refined granulated sugar hence served as the control. The data on fructose and micronutrients concentrations of natural honey and refined sugar as well as data on the weight gain and feed intake of the albino rats were determined after 28 days. According to the findings of this study, the fructose concentration was higher in natural honey (195.78mg/ml) while refined sugar (30.225mg/ml) recorded the least value. Also, copper (0.15ppm) and manganese (0.05ppm) had the highest mean concentration in natural honey, while iron (0.04ppm) and zinc (0.07ppm) were higher in refined sugar. The study's findings revealed that the highest feed intake by albino rat was recorded in T1 (148.16g) while T5 (140.27g) had the least. There were no significant differences in albino rat feed intake among the five treatments (p>0.05). The highest weight gain was recorded by the albino rat in T1 (69.84g) while T5 (32.28g) had the least. There were no significant differences in the weight gain of the albino rats among the five treatments. This study's findings led to the conclusion that the doses of natural honey used did not significantly increase the weight gain of albino rats.
Keywords: Growth performance, albino rats, natural honey, refined sugar