ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT OF ALOE VERA IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Aloe vera (AV) in alloxan induced diabetes in albino rabbits. Experimental Diabetes was induced in rabbits with alloxan(80mg/Kg body weight)and animals showing fasting blood glucose levels more than 250mg/dl were considered as diabetics  and divided into four groups of six each (n=6).    Group I: Normal control rabbits, Group II: Alloxan induced diabetic rabbits, Group III: Diabetic rabbits received AV gel extract (300 mg/Kg) in aqueous solution for 21 days, Group IV: diabetic rabbits given glibenclamide (600ug/kg) in aqueous solution. All the drugs were administered orally (using an intra gastric tube) in a single dose in the morning for 21 days. Blood samples were collected from the marginal vein of pinna of overnight fasted rabbits (Blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiols (PSH) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD).Oral administration of AV showed potent antihyperglycemic and anti-lipidperoxidative effect in diabetic animals. Simultaneously, the levels of protective antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH and PSH) were significantly increased with AV supplementation. The results suggest potent antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of AV in experimental diabetes, and thus Aloe vera can be used as an alternative remedy for treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications.