Gastroprotective effect of mucilage extracted from Aloe vera L. leaves in albino rats

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the gastroprotective effect of mucilage extracted from Aloe vera (A. vera) leaves in albino rats. Materials and methods: The technique used was observation, and the method was based on inducing gastric ulcers with 96 % ethanol. The animals were divided into seven treatment groups: (I) control group, which received normal saline (4 mL/kg); (II)
group administered 96 % ethanol (1 mL/animal); (III) group treated with ranitidine (100 mg/kg); (IV) group administered sucralfate (50 mg/kg); and (V–VII) groups treated with mucilage at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Results: The mean volumes of gastric content in animals treated with mucilage at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg were statistically comparable to those in the ranitidine and sucralfate groups. The percentage efficiency in increasing gastric pH of the experimental animals was highest with ranitidine, followed by sucralfate, and then the different doses of mucilage. Ulcer inhibition was 54.45 %, 64.45 %, and 73.33 % with mucilage at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively, compared with 58.89 % for ranitidine and 73.33 % for sucralfate (p < 0.05). The 100 mg/kg mucilage dose was statistically comparable to sucralfate, while the 50 mg/kg dose was comparable to ranitidine. Histopathological analysis revealed a mild to moderate inflammatory component that was dispersed and perivascular, and extended to the submucosa. In the 96 % ethanol group, ulcerative lesions with acute inflammation reaching the submucosa were observed. In contrast, ulcer formation was inhibited in the mucilage-treated and standard drug groups. Conclusions: The mucilage extracted from Aloe vera leaves demonstrated a gastroprotective effect in  experimental animals.