Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extract of Aloe vera in Albino rats

Abstract

Background: The study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of Aloe vera [AEAV] leaves. AEAV was prepared by the Soxhlet apparatus and 500mg/kg body weight was used. Methods: To screen for acute inflammation by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method, eighteen healthy albino rats weighing 150-200 gm each were used. They were divided in three groups with six animals in each group. At the 1st hr, 2nd hour, 3rd hour and the 4th hour, the test drug i.e. AEAV [aqueous extract of Aloe vera] showed 26.92%, 41.6%, 44.44% and 48.21 % inhibition of edema formation, whereas the standard drug Indomethacin [10 mg/kg] showed 53.85%, 61.11%, 66.67% and 71.43% inhibition respectively. Reduction of paw edema formation was highly significant in both Aloe vera and Indomethacin. Results: In Granuloma pouch method for subacute inflammation, the chemical used was 1 ml of 20 % carrageenan suspension in sesame oil. On the 5th day pouch is opened, exudates measured. Both Aloe vera and Indomethacin showed highly significant inhibition of exudate formation. Conclusions: In Adjuvant arthritis method for chronic inflammation, paw edema of the injected and the non-injected were measured on the 5th day and the 21st day respectively. Arthritic index was measured on the 21st day. These results were highly significant for AEAV and Indomethacin in comparison with the control. The results for the arthritic index were highly significant for both Aloe vera and Indomethacin. It is easily illustrated that the herbal plant Aloe vera at the dose of 500mg/kg demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effect against all the experimental methods on inflammation.