Effect of <i>Aloe vera</i> gel extract on antioxidant enzymes and azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress in rats

Abstract

The present work was undertaken with a view to study the effect of oral feeding of 2% <i>Aloe vera</i> gel extract (AGE) for 30 days on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced oxidative stress in rats. It was observed that AOM administration resulted in a significant increase in malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes, with reduction in hepatic glutathione (GSH), vitamin A and uric acid contents. AOM-induced reduction in hepatic GSH and uric acid was brought back to normal by AGE. There was a significant raise in hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activities as a result of feeding of the extract. Ingestion of the extract effected reduction in AOM-induced colonic GSH-peroxidase, G-6- PD and glutathione S-transferase and femur bone marrow micronuclei formation. Hence, it is suggested that <i>Aloe vera</i> gel extract possess the ability to reduce AOM- induced oxidative stress and toxicity in liver.