The Effects of Crude Aqueous and Alcohol Extracts of <em>Aloe Vera</em> on Growth and Abdominal Viscera of Suckling Rats

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract of neonates is sensitive to dietary manipulations. When nursing mothers use Aloe vera, their babies are at risk of indirect exposure to Aloe vera via breast feeding or directly as health supplements. The effects of orally administered extracts of Aloe vera in unweaned rats were investigated. Six day old Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with aqueous or alcohol extracts of Aloe vera (low dose 50mg. kg -1 or high dose 500mg. kg) daily for eight days. All data were expressed as mean ± SD and analyzed by one way ANOVA. Pups receiving high doses of either extract had a significantly higher body mass gain than the group receiving lower dose (p < 0.05). Tibial length was significantly increased in the high dose aqueous extract group (15-26 %). The differences in growth could not be attributed to circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 as the levels were not significantly different. The caecum was significantly enlarged in the rats that received the high doses of both extracts. Although, there was no significant difference in the non-fasting plasma concentration of glucose and triglycerides, the hepatic lipid and glycogen content were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for the high dose aqueous extract group. The plasma alanine transaminase was not affected by the treatments, however the high doses of the extracts significantly increased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. Short term administration of Aloe vera extracts resulted in growth promotion, enhanced hepatic storage of metabolic substrates, increased ALP possibly in relation to bone growth and caused hypertrophy of the caecum of neonatal rats. These effects need to be explored further to enhance animal production and health.

The Effects of Co-administration of Immobilization Stress and Aloe vera on Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Rats

“…Our data highlight for the first time, to our knowledge, the protective effects of Aloe vera leaf extract on serum CEA level enhancement induced by immobilization stress. In line with this finding, studies have found that Aloe vera extract has a protective role in different organs [29].…”

Dietary effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on growth, gastrointestinal morphometry and blood and liver metabolites in Sprague Dawley rats

“…Beya et al. () observed enlargement of the caecum in growing rats exposed to high doses of Aloe vera extracts, while Erlwanger and Cooper () reported caecal enlargement in growing rats exposed to high aqueous doses of the African potato extracts. It is interesting to note that the apparent positive effects of M. oleifera leaf powder on GIT organs development were not supported by histology (Table ).…”

The Use of Herbal Medicine in a Rural Community in Vitória Da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil: An Indication for Pharmacological Studies

“…Lowering LDL, increasing HDL, decreasing blood glucose level, treating genital herpes and psoriasis [45], positive effect on body mass, caecum and tibial bones in the short term [46], antiinflammatory activity [47].…”