Abstract: Aloe vera is a semi-tropical plant of Liliaceae family which has a wide range of applications in traditional medicine. In the present study, we sought to investigate the heptaoprotective potential of Aloe vera gel as a diet supplement. To achieve this goal, we have designed in vitro and in vivo experimental models of chemical-induced liver damage using male Sprague–Dawley rat. In the in vitro model, its effect was evaluated on Fenton’s reaction-induced liver lipid peroxidation. Co-incubation with gel significantly reduced the generation of liver lipid peroxide (LPO). Next, to see the similar effect in vivo, gel was orally administered to rats once daily for 21 successive days. Following 1 hour of the last administration of gel, rats were treated with intra-peritoneal injection of CCl4. Dietary gel showed significant hepatoprotection against CCl4-induced damage as evident by restoration of liver LPO, serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin towards near normal. The beneficial effects were pronounced with the doses used (400 and 800 mg/kg body weight). Besides, we did not observe any significant drop in serum albumin, globulin as well as total protein levels of gel-administered rats. Histopathology of the liver tissue further supported the biochemical findings confirming the hepatoprotective potential of dietary gel.
References
1. JeenaKJ, KuttanR. Hepatoprotective activity of Emblica officinalis and Chyavanaprash. J Ethnopharmacol2000;72:135–40.10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00219-1Search in Google Scholar
2. HalliwellB. Oxygen and nitrogen are pro-carcinogens. Damage to DNA by reactive oxygen, chlorine and nitrogen species: measurement, mechanism and the effects of nutrition. Mutat Res1999;443:37–52.10.1016/S1383-5742(99)00009-5Search in Google Scholar
3. BergaminiCM, GambettiS, DondiA, CervellatiC. Oxygen, reactive oxygen species and tissue damage. Curr Pharm Des2004;10:1611–26.10.2174/1381612043384664Search in Google Scholar
4. ReddyMB, ClarkL. Iron, oxidative stress, and disease risk. Nutr Rev2004;62:120–4.10.1301/nr.2004.mar.120-124Search in Google Scholar
5. ShahAM, ChannonKM. Free radicals and redox signalling in cardiovascular disease. Heart2004;90:486–7.10.1136/hrt.2003.029389Search in Google Scholar
6. WillnerC. An overview of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Altern Ther Health Med2004;10:26–34.Search in Google Scholar
7. AhsanH, AliA, AliR. Oxygen free radicals and systemic autoimmunity. Clin Exp Immunol2003;31:398–404.10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02104.xSearch in Google Scholar
8. KnightJA. Diseases related to oxygen-derived free radicals. Ann Clin Lab Sci1995;25:111–21.Search in Google Scholar
9. WarisG, AlamK. Attenuated antigenicity of ribonucleoproteins modified by reactive oxygen species. Biochem Mol Biol Int1998;45:33–45.10.1080/15216549800202412Search in Google Scholar
10. GrindlayD, ReynoldsT. The Aloe vera phenomenon: a review of the properties and modern uses of the leaf parenchyma gel. J Ethnopharmacol1986;16:117.10.1016/0378-8741(86)90085-1Search in Google Scholar
11. IshiiY, TanizawaH, TakinoY. Studies of aloe. V: Mechanism of cathartic effect. Biol Pharm Bull1994;17:651–3.10.1248/bpb.17.651Search in Google Scholar PubMed
12. CoatsBC. The silent healer, a modern study ofAloe Vera. Garland, TX.Search in Google Scholar
13. SheltonMS. Aloe vera, its chemical and therapeutic properties. Int J Dermatol1991;30:679–83.10.1111/j.1365-4362.1991.tb02607.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
14. SabehF, WrightT, et al.. Purification and characterization of glutathione peroxidase and Isozymes of superoxide dismutase from Aloe vera plant. Enz Protein1993;47:92–8.10.1159/000468662Search in Google Scholar
15. OhkawaHN, Ohnishi K, Yagi. Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissue by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem1979;95:351–8.10.1016/0003-2697(79)90738-3Search in Google Scholar
16. NishigakiI, KuttanR, OkuH, AshooriF, AbeH, YagiK. Suppressive effect of curcumin on lipid peroxidation induced in rats by carbon tetrachloride or Co60 irradiation. J Clin Biochem Nutr1992;13:23–9.10.3164/jcbn.13.23Search in Google Scholar
17. LowryDH, RosebroughNJ, FarrAL, RandallRJ. Protein measurement with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem1951;193:265–75.10.1016/S0021-9258(19)52451-6Search in Google Scholar
18. BergmeyerHU, BerntE. Colorimetric method for asparate and alanine aminotransferases. In: VarleyH, GowenlockAH, BellM, editors. Practical clinical biochemistry, 5th ed. London: William Heinemann Medical Books, 1950:741–2.Search in Google Scholar
19. KindPRN, KingEJ. Estimation of plasma Phosphatase by determination of hydrolysed phenol with antipyrine. J Clin Pathol1954;7:322–30.10.1136/jcp.7.4.322Search in Google Scholar
20. MalloyHT, EvelynKA. The determination of bilirubin with the photometric colorimeter. J Biol Chem1937;119:481–90.10.1016/S0021-9258(18)74392-5Search in Google Scholar
21. JosephsonB, GyllenswardC. The development of the protein fractions and of cholesterol concentration in the serum of normal infants and children. Scand J Clin Lab Invest1957; 9:29–38.10.3109/00365515709088110Search in Google Scholar
22. JohnsonAM. Amino acids, peptides and proteins. In: BurtisCA, AshwoodER, BrunsDE, editors. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 4th ed. St. Louis, Elsevier Saunders; 2006;p. 543–546.Search in Google Scholar
23. ChandanBK, SaxenaAK, ShuklaS, SharmaN, GuptaDK, SuriKA, et al.. Hepatoprotective potential of Aloe barbadensis Mill. Against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity. J Ethnopharmacol2007;111:560–6.10.1016/j.jep.2007.01.008Search in Google Scholar
24. DeianaM, RosaA, CasuV, PigaR, Assunta, Dessì M, et al.. L-erASThioneine modulates oxidative damage in the kidney and liver of rats in vivo: studies upon the profile of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Clin Nutr2004;23:183–93.10.1016/S0261-5614(03)00108-0Search in Google Scholar
25. TraversoN, RicciarelliR, DomenicottiC, MeniniS, PronzatoMA, CottalassoD, et al.. Protein kinase C inactivation by Fenton’s-reaction at discrete Cu++ binding sites. Biochem Mol Biol Int1996;40:285–93.10.1080/15216549600201772Search in Google Scholar PubMed
26. RecknagelRO, (1983) A new direction in the study of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, Life Sciences, 33, 401–408.10.1016/0024-3205(83)90787-7Search in Google Scholar
27. WeberLW, BollM, StampflA. Hepatotoxicity and mechanism of action of haloalkanes: carbon tetrachloride as a toxicological model. Crit Rev Toxicol2003;33:105–36.10.1080/713611034Search in Google Scholar PubMed
28. SingB, SaxenaAK, CahandanBK, AnandKK, SuriOP, SuriKA, et al.. Hepatoprotective activity of verbenalin on experimental liver damage in rodents. Fitoterapia1998;69:135–40.Search in Google Scholar
29. MolanderDW, WroblewskiF, La DueJS. Transaminase compared with cholinesterase and alkaline phosphatase an index of hepatocellular integrity. Clin Res Proc1955;3:20–4.Search in Google Scholar
30. ClawsonGA. Mechanism of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity. Pathol Immunopathol Res1989;8:104–12.10.1159/000157141Search in Google Scholar PubMed
©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin / Boston
