Aloe Vera Extract Affects Glycosylated Haemoglobin and Blood Glucose in Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of aloe vera extract on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) and blood glucose levels in albino rats.

Study Design: Laboratory-based experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi and National Institute of Health, Islamabad Pakistan, from Oct 2018 to Mar 2019.
Methodology: Ninety male Sprague Dawley rats, aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 250±50 grams, were divided into three Groups. In Group-A, non-diabetic rats were given a standard lasb diet. In Groups B and C, diabetic rats were given a standard laboratory diet. In Group-C, an extract of Aloe Vera at 300mg/kg body weight was also given once daily. Before the commencement of the experiment, blood glucose was measured, and then after injection, STZ on the fourth-day record of blood glucose was taken. At the end of the experiment, a blood sample was taken from the tail vein to analyze glycosylated haemoglobin levels and blood glucose.

Results: The difference in blood glucose levels at the start of the experiment was significant statistically (p-value <0.001) when Group-B was compared to Group-A. The difference in fasting glucose levels at the termination of the experiment was statistically significant when Group-C was juxtaposed to Groups B and A (p-value <0.05). The difference in glycosylated haemoglobin levels was significant statistically between Groups A and B and Groups A and C, (p-value of <0.001).
Conclusion: Aloe vera extract has an ameliorative effect on blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.