Abstract
Background: Up to date no documented research tends to study influence of natural honey administration on gastric emptying in healthy male albino rats.

Aims & Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of natural honey administration on gastric emptying in healthy male albino rats.

Materials and Methods: A total number of 36 healthy, male, albino rats weighing 150- 200 grams were used in this study. The rats were subdivided into sex equal groups I (control group received distilled water), II (received a small dose of honey), III (received a large dose of honey), IV (received metoclopramide), V (received both small dose of honey and metoclopramide) and VI (received both large dose of honey and metoclopramide). Then, percentage of gastric emptying during one hour (experimental period) was calculated in all the groups.

Results: This study revealed that honey large dose and the combination of honey large dose with metoclopramide significantly (P<0.05) decreased the % of gastric emptying in male albino rats in their groups in comparison to the control group. These results suggested that honey decreases % of gastric emptying in male albino rats in a dose dependent manner.

Conclusion: Honey decreases % of gastric emptying in male albino rats and these effects are mostly mediated by its high concentrations of monosaccharides glucose and fructose. These results help in clarification of the role of honey in treating diarrhea and its utilization prior to surgeries and also, its role in increasing body weight in infants.

Key words: Honey, Gastric emptying, Metoclopramide.