Short Period Starvation in Rat: The Effect of Aloe Vera Gel Extract on Oxidative Stress Status Ion

Abstract

The main aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera gel extract on oxidative stress status during starvation. For this purpose, twenty-four mature male albino Wistar rats were housed in standard cages. In this study starvation cycle (rats were starved for two days and then were fed for one day) was used. This study was performed during short period (20 days). Animals were divided into four experimental groups (six rats in each group): 1) normal control; 2) starved rats+water/ethanol; 3) starved rats+hydro-alcoholic Aloe vera gel extract (100 mg/kg); 4) starved rats+hydro-alcoholic Aloe vera gel extract (200 mg/kg). Blood samples were obtained using cardiac puncture. In blood samples, antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), antioxidant trace elements including copper, zinc and manganese and antioxidant vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C were measured. Plasma levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and catalase) significantly decreased in starved rats+water/ethanol group (P0.05). Plasma levels of vitamin A and E in normal control group had no significant difference with starved rats+water/ethanol and starved rats+hydro-alcoholic Aloe vera gel extract in the 100 and 200 mg/kg dose groups (P>0.05). Plasma level of vitamin C significantly decreased in starved rats+water/ethanol group (P<0.05). Plasma level of vitamin C after treatment with hydro-alcoholic Aloe vera gel extract at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg were significantly increased (P<0.05). Our results shown that short term starvation caused an increase in oxidative stress via impairing of antioxidant defense and Aloe vera treatment is able to improve antioxidative defense induced by starvation.

Keywords

• Aloe vera gel extract
• oxidative stress
• rat
• starvation