The hypoglycemic effect of aqueous leaf extract of aloes in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats

Abstract

The hypoglycemic effect of aqueous leaf extract of aloes was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic albino winster rats. Twenty five mature rats used in the study were randomly divided into five groups with five rats in each group. Group C served as the control and received no drug. Group 1
was treated with water; group 2 was treated with the plant extract at 1000 mg/kg; group 3 was treated with the drug glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) and group 4 with a combination therapy (500 mg/kg aloes extract and 5 mg/kg Glibenclamide). The rats were fed ad libitum in 14 day experiment. At 3 days intervals, the blood sample was collected to determine the glucose level in all the different groups. When compared with the standard drug gluburide, the glucose lowering effect of aqueous extract of aloes was significantly at p<0.05. The oral treatment with 1000 mg/kg/day of Aloe extract for 14 consecutive days significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose level (p<0.05) in the diabetic rats indicative of the fact that the extract contains active phytochemicals with potent hypoglycaemic property.

Keywords: Aloes, alloxan, diabetic, glyburide, hypoglycemic effect, albino rat