Type 2 diabetes consists of progressive hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and pancreatic β cell dysfunction which could result from glucose toxicity, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress. In the present study we investigated the effect of gelam honey and quercetin, on the oxidative stress induced inflammatory pathways and the proinflammatory cytokines.

Methods HIT-T15 cells were cultured in 5 % CO₂  and then preincubated with gelam honey extract (20, 40, 60 and 80 µg/ml., as well as quercetin  ( 20,40, 60 and 80 µM), prior to stimulation by 20 and 50  mM  glucose. Cell lysates were collected to determine the effect of honey extracts and quercetin on JNK and IKkβ inflammatory pathways and the proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β

Results. HIT-T15 cells cultured under hyperglycemic condition showed a significant increase in the inflammatory pathways by phosphorylating JNK, IKkβ and IRS-1at ser 307. (p<0.05 ).At the same time there was a significant  decrease in the phosphorylation AKt at ser 473 (p<0.05)  Pretreatment with gelam honey and quercetin reduced the expression of phosphorylated JNK, IKkβ and IRS-1, thereby significantly reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β (p<0.05 ). At the same time there was a significant increase in the phosphorylated Akt showing the protective effects against inflammation and insulin resistance (p<0.05)

In conclusion our data suggest the potential use of the extract from gelam honey and quercetin in modulating the inflammation induced insulin signaling pathways.  It is also possible that JNK and IKkβ pathways could be a therapeutic target for Type 2 diabetes