Gastro-protective actions of Aloe barbadensis Miller mitigate ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the gastroprotective effect of leaf extract of Aloe barbadensis on ethanolinduced gastric ulcer in rats.Methods: Healthy male Wistar rats (n = 30) weighing 180 - 220 g (mean weight = 200 ± 20 g) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (5 rats/group): control group, gastric ulcer group, two Aloe barbadensis extract groups (250 and 500 mg/kg), cimetidine group and indomethacin group. Gastric ulcer was induced via oral injection of absolute ethanol at a dose of 1 mL/kg after a 24-h fast. Gross evaluation, determination of gastric juice acidity and histological examination of gastric tissue were carried out.Results: Treatment of gastric ulcer rats with Aloe barbadensis extract significantly reduced ulcerated area (UA), ulcer index (UI), and acidity of gastric juice (p < 0.05). Injection of 1 % carrageenan into rat hind paw led to a time-dependent increase in paw volume which peaked 3 h after injection. However, the Aloe barbadensis extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced the volume of inflamed paw, and inhibited edema formation (p < 0.05). It also markedly reduced or completely eliminated edema and leucocyte infiltration. Moreover, treatment of gastric ulcer rats with Aloe barbadensis leaf extract led to significant and dose-dependent reduction in gastric tissue MDA level (p < 0.05). Histological examination of the gastric wall showed that control rats had severe injury in gastric mucosa,accompanied by edema and leucocytes infiltration, relative to rats pretreated with extract which showed marked gastric protection and inhibition of edema and leucocytes infiltration. Moreover, the extract treatment protected the gastric surface against ulceration as indicated by reduced lesions in the treated rat model.Conclusion: These results show that Aloe barbadensis mitigates ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats via inhibition of lipid  peroxidation and inflammation. Thus, the extract has potentials for development into a therapeutic agent for the management of  gastric ulcer. Keywords: Aloe barbadensis, Gastric ulcer, Gastric mucosa, Inflammation, Lipid peroxidation