Abstract
In this study, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and the ferric reducing power (FRAP) of Aloe vera were measured to determine the antioxidant activity of this species. The in vivo antidiabetic effects of the plant were also investigated using streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic model rats that were divided into five groups based on the treatment received: (1) water (WC); (2) glibenclamide; (3) concentrated gel extract (Gel-C); (4) ethanol (80%) gel extract (Gel-Et); and (5) ethanol (80%) skin extract of Aloe vera (Skin-Et). Skin-Et, which contained the highest level of total phenolics (62.37 ± 1.34 mggallic acid/kg) and flavonoids (20.83 ± 0.77 mg/kg), exhibited the highest scavenging activity (85.01 ± 0.52%) and the greatest reducing power (185.98 ± 0.41 µM), indicating that the skin contained the highest level of antioxidants. The oral consumption of Gel-Et for 4 weeks a caused significant reduction in the fasting serum glucose levels of the rats. The rats in the Gel-C-, Gel-Et- and Skin-Et-treated groups experienced a reduction in their total cholesterol levels by 11%, 17% and 25%, respectively and a reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels by 45%, 3% and 69%, respectively. The in vivo experimental antioxidant parameter MDA is strongly correlated with the in vitro antioxidant parameters of flavonoids and polyphenols, namely the DPPH and FRAP values (r = 0.94, 0.92, 0.93, 0.90), thus confirming the antioxidant potential of the Aloe vera extracts.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major global health threat, especially in developed and developing countries [1] and is considered a worldwide epidemic [2]
We investigated the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of different Aloe vera extracts in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic model rats
The lowest polyphenol concentration was observed in the gel extract (Gel-C) extract, whereas the gel extract (Gel-Et) extract exhibited the lowest flavonoid content (Table 1)
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major global health threat, especially in developed and developing countries [1] and is considered a worldwide epidemic [2]. The prevalence and complications of type 2 diabetes are increasing daily. The use of conventional drugs to treat metabolic disorders and the pathological consequences of diabetes further increases the complications because of the side effects and high costs of these drugs. There is a need to develop alternative strategies for diabetes therapy. Natural products are useful alternatives because these compounds are believed to have fewer side effects. Spices and other plant materials have been used to treat diabetes. A total of more than 400 species were reported to display hypoglycemic effects, but few of these species have been investigated [3]. 90 plants have been screened for hypoglycemic properties at the Bangladesh
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