Histologic and Histomorphometric Study on the Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Aloe Vera Extract on Tissue Formation of Sciatic Nerve in Diabetic Male Rats

Abstract

Background ; Objective: Diabetes mellitus affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, which leads to the dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system. Reports suggest that Aloe Vera has anti-diabetic effects. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Aloe Vera on Sciatic nerve of the diabetic rats.Materials ; Methods: 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 gram were randomly divided into three groups of 15 rats as control group, the experimental group1 (DM), and the experimental group 2(DM+ Aloe Vera). Diabetes in the experimental groups of one and two was induced by injection of 50mg/kg Streptozotcin. The control group and the experimental group two received 50mg/kg Aloe Vera by gavage for 12 and 16 weeks. Then, the animals were anesthetized and sciatic nerves were dissected and fixed. The tissue changes of the sciatic nerves were surveyed by histologic and histomorphometric studies. The data have been analyzed by using the SPSS software Results: In diabetic rats, a significant decrease was seen in the mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness of the Sciatic nerve. Long-term treatment with Aloe Vera significantly prevented all these abnormalities in treated diabetic rats (P <0/05). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the hydro alcoholic extract of Aloe Vera as a potential therapeutic agent that can help prevent histomorphometric and histologic changes induced by diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Keywords

• aloe vera
• diabetic neuropathy
• sciatic nerve
• rat