Effects and Mechanism of Trigona Honey on the Reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Blood Glucose Regulation in Rattus norvegicus as a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Model

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and increased oxidative stress, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributing to insulin resistance and diabetic complications. This study investigates the effects of Trigona honey, produced by stingless bees, as a potential alternative for managing T2DM. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + low-dose Trigona honey (1.35 mL/200g BW), and diabetic + high-dose Trigona honey (2.7 mL/200g BW). T2DM was induced by alloxan injection, and treatments were administered for 14 days. Fasting blood glucose, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and insulin receptor expression were assessed. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test revealed that Trigona honey significantly reduced fasting blood glucose in the low-dose (142.7 ± 10.5 mg/dL) and high-dose (117.3 ± 8.9 mg/dL) groups compared to the diabetic control (248.6 ± 12.3 mg/dL), with p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively. Trigona honey also reduced MDA levels (p < 0.05) and increased SOD and CAT activities in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01). Insulin receptor expression significantly increased in the high-dose group (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that Trigona honey exhibits significant hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects, making it a promising functional food and complementary therapy for T2DM management.