Background: Cytokines are glycoprotein compounds with an important role in inducing and regulating inflammation. Objectives: The present study aimed to measure the effect of Aloe vera alcoholic extracts on inflammatory cytokines in rats fed with a high-fat diet. Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were purchased and randomly categorized into five groups, including two control groups (control and control fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and three experimental groups (high-fat diet + 150 mg/kg Aloe vera, high fat diet + 300 mg/kg Aloe vera, and high-fat diet + 600 mg/kg Aloe vera). The rats in the experimental groups received high-fat emulsion and three doses of Aloe vera for 60 days in the form of gavage. Following blood sampling, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interferon-γ (INF-γ) were measured. Statistical analysis was administered using SPSS-20 software by ANOVA test. Mean comparisons were conducted via Duncan’s multiple range test at the 0.05 level of significance. Results: The findings showed that a high-fat diet (HFD) could increase the concentrations of inflammatory factors TNF-α and TGF-β (P < 0.05). Moreover, an increase in the concentration of inflammatory factor IL-6 was observed at P < 0.01. No significant effects were observed in the mean concentration of INF-γ in the study groups. The use of Aloe vera gel extract considerably reduced inflammatory factors TNF-α, TGF-β, and IL-6 in the Aloe vera extract-receiving groups. Conclusions: In general, the results of the present study revealed that Aloe vera alcoholic extract reduced inflammatory factors in the rats fed with a high-fat diet.
Background & Aims: Diseases caused by high-fat diets and obesity are now recognized as a health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of aloe Vera hydroalcoholic extract on spermatogenesis parameters and tissue structure of testis of rats fed with a high-fat diet. Materials & Methods: 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (control group (Con), control group fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), and experimental groups 1 to 3 (HFD +150 mg aloe Vera, HFD +300 mg aloe Vera, and HFD + 600 mg aloe Vera). High-fat emulsion and three doses of aloe Vera were administered orally for 60 days. Finally, after dissection and preparation, testicular tissue was examined histopathologically. The number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli, and Leydig cells was counted. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and the means were compared using ANOVA and Post hoc Tukey's test at 0.05%.
Results:The results showed a significant decrease in mean of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells in the group receiving a high-fat diet (HFD) compared to the control group. Aloe Vera extract significantly increased the number of sex cells in the testis. Increasing the dose of aloe Vera to 600 mg/kg further improved histopathological tissue damage.
Conclusion:The results of study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of aloe Vera in mice fed with a high-fat diet significantly reduces the risk of pathological tissue damage in testes and increases fertility by increasing the number of sex cells.
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