EFFECT OF ALOE VERA LEAF EXTRACT IN ANIMAL MODEL OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Suhasini Dehury* and Jewa Tripathy

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Aloe vera (ALEAV) in animal model (wistar albino rats) through macroscopic and histopathological study of the colon after inducing ulcerative colitis by usage of acetic acid. 30 healthy albino rats of either sex 150-200g body wt. and 2-4 months age groups were divided into five groups (six in each). Group 1 was normal control group receiving vehicle 1ml of normal saline transrectally (negative control). Group 2 was ulcerative colitis control which was treated with normal saline. Group 3 & 4 were administered aqueous leaf extract of Aloe vera suspension(test drug) 150,300mg/kg bodyweight dose orally for 10 days respectively. Ulcerative colitis was induced on 10th day. Group 5 was administered prednisolone(1mg/kg) orally for 3 days. On the 3rd day ulcerative colitis was induced by transrectal administration of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid solution. In all the groups, animals were observed for decrease in bodyweight, stool consistency and rectal bleeding i.e Disease Activity Index for 48 hours after inducing ulcerative colitis. After 48 hours the rats were sacrificed by high dose of ether anaesthesia and a piece of colonic segment(10cm in length) were resected out and subjected to macroscopical study(colon mucosal index) and microscopic evaluation. ALEAV at 150 mg/kg produced significant improvement in macroscopic score in comparison to disease control (group 2) which is comparable to that of normal control (group 1) in ulcerative colitis model. Histopathological studies showed significant dose dependent decrease in lymphoid hyperplasia, neutrophilic infiltration, crypt damage and submucosal inflammation in ALEAV treated group (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w) in comparison to disease control.

Keywords: aloevera leaf extract, ulcerative colitis, disease activity index, colon mucosal index.