Rhododendron honey, made by bees from rhododendron pollen, contains a toxic substance called grayanotoxin. Depending on the dose, the poisonous honey can result in serious effects such as cardiac arrhythmia, fibrillation, and myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the poisonous RH of the Black Sea Region on the liver. Male mice were divided into five groups of twelve mice each, two being the control groups (distilled water) and the others being the rhododendron honey (RH) groups (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg) and 0.01 mg/kg grayanotoxin (GTx) groups. Liver tissues were collected 24 and 48 h later. The sections were stained with hematoxylin, eosin and PAS, then the histopathological score was performed. Significant statistical differences were observed between the RH and control groups in terms of congestion, steatosis, sinusoid dilatation, and inflammation. The control group demonstrated a normal liver structure in the light microscopy, while the GTx-applied 24 h group exhibited expansions in the sinusoids and congestion. Higher levels of congestion, steatosis, and inflammatory cells were seen in the GTx-applied 48 h group. In the same group, giant cells consisting of many nuclei were observed in the sinusoids. The results of the 25 mg RH-applied groups were similar in 24 and 48 h, histopathological score levels were increased slightly, congestion and steatosis were prominent in the 48 h group. Dense steatosis was seen in the hepatocytes around the vena centralis in 50 mg/kg RH-applied 48 h group. Congestion, steatosis and an increase in inflammatory cells were observed in the hepatocytes in the 75 mg/kg RH-applied 24- and 48 h groups. PAS (+) stained hepatocytes were decreased in the RH- and GTx-applied groups. The toxic effects of the rhododendron honey were observed in the mice liver tissue with respect to dose and time.
