Kelulut Honey Regulates Sex Steroid Receptors in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rat Model

The study examined the effects of Kelulut Honey (KH) on sex steroid receptors in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) induced rats. 42 female rats were used, 36 of which were induced with PCOS and 6 were given distilled water. The rats were treated with different substances including KH, metformin, clomiphene, a combination of these, or distilled water for 35 days. The results showed that KH normalized the mRNA expression and protein distribution of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (Erα), and estrogen receptor β (Erβ), similar to the effects of clomiphene and metformin. However, none of the treatments affected Progesterone Receptor (PR) mRNA expression. This suggests that KH could potentially be used as a regulator of sex steroid receptors in PCOS patients.