Proximate composition, phytochemical screening and antianaemic effect of Aloe barbadensis (Aloe) leaves in nutritionally stressed rats

Abstract

In this study, the phytochemical screening and anti-anaemic effect of Aloe barbadensis leaves was investigated in nutritionally stressed rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening test of the plant revealed that it contained tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, saponins, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Sets of male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing between 100 and 105g, were fed on normal diet (20% protein) and low protein diet (2% protein) supplemented with the plant leaves (10% of diet) for ten (10) weeks. The results revealed that rats fed on the protein deficient diet supplemented with the leaves (PDDV) had significantly (p < 0.05) increased packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB), red blood cells (RBC), platelets, total protein and albumin levels when compared with the protein deficient diet fed rats (PDD – negative control) which had significantly reduced (p < 0.05) levels of these parameters when compared with the normal diet fed rats (ND – positive control). The histopathological examination of the liver and kidney tissues showed evidence of severe fatty changes especially in the PDD fed rats whereas the PDDV fed rats showed moderate fatty changes relative to the control. These findings confirm local claims on the efficacy of A. barbadensis leaves in the treatment of anaemia as a result of its bioactive principles.Keywords: Aloe barbadensis; Nutritionally-stressed; Anaemia; Protein energy malnutrition; Phytochemicals.