ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF ALOE VERA IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a multifunctional disorder in which free radicals may cause oxidative cellular injury and changes in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. So the objective of the study was to find out the antioxidant properties of Aloe vera. Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were treated with Aloe vera extract (150 mg and 300 mg/kg) and standard drug Vit C (9 mg/kg) in different groups. The normal rats were treated with distilled water and same doses of Aloe vera. The antioxidant parameters like plasma superoxide dismutase, plasma malonaldehyde (MDA) and liver glutathione (GSH) was estimated after 21 days of treatment. Aloe vera in both the doses (150 and 300 mg/kg) increased the enzymatic antioxidants (SOD and GSH) and decreased the lipid peroxide (MDA) as compared to diabetic control (p < 0.001). Aloe vera has significant antioxidant properties which can be useful in diabetes.