EFFECTS OF HIGH DOSE OF Heterotrigona itama KELULUT (STINGLESS BEE) HONEY FOR SHORT-TERM ORAL CONSUMPTION

Recently, Kelulut honey has gained popularity and has become a preferred and most sought-after honey for its medicinal properties. However, only some systemic studies are available with regards to the curative and medicinal properties of the honey, this leaves consumer without a safety net or quality guarantee. Therefore, this study was designed and undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of kelulut honey, consumption harvested from the Heterotrigona itama species of stingless bee, an acute oral toxicity study, which adopted the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 423, which tested rats with two high doses of honey at 2,000 mg/kg and 5,000 mg/kg for 14 days. The rats were observed for signs of toxicity and other abnormalities after the first dose was consumed. The rats were observed and analysed both physically, biochemically, and histopathology. There were no observable toxic effects on the rats dosed with kelulut honey, as evidenced by the fact that even at the highest dose (5,000 mg/kg) the rats did not show any signs of toxicity or mortality in the rats and did not significantly differ physically or biochemically when compared to rats in the control group on a diet of distilled water. Kelulut honey’s lethal dose surpassed 5,000 mg/kg and was categorised as being in Category 5 according to the Globally Harmonised System and was safe to consume it in high doses. However, further subacute toxicity studies are needed to evaluate the effects of long-term daily consumption of kelulut honey.