Antioxidative Effect of Aloe Vera Leaf Extract against Radiation Induced Oxidative Stress

Antioxidative potential of Aloe was studied in mice exposed to different doses of gamma radiation. In this study, adult male Swiss albino mice were divided in six groups (I, II, III, IV, V and VI). Group I and II contained sham irradiated (normal) and Aloe alone treated animals respectively. Each group from III-VI contained an experimental set in which Aloe extract was administered orally at the dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight for 15 consecutive days and a control set, which received double distilled water (volume equal to that used for administration of Aloe in experimental sets) in the similar manner for similar period. On the last day of Aloe and double distilled water (DDW) administration, animals of group III, IV, V and VI were exposed to 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 Gy gamma radiations respectively. Level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in mice liver at day 1⁄4, 1⁄2, 1, 5, 10 and 20 post-irradiation. Treatment with Aloe alone lowered the LPO level and increased the contents of GSH non-significantly. Irradiation of animals resulted in a dose dependent increase in LPO and GSH contents in liver of mice at 1⁄4 day post irradiation. Thereafter, LPO decreased and GSH increased at later autopsy intervals but these parameters did not return to normal level even at last day of this study (day 20) in any of the irradiated alone sets. Whereas, treatment with Aloe prior to irradiation reduced generation of LPO and increased the contents of GSH significantly at all autopsy intervals. Conclusively Vitamins A (ß-carotene), C, E, glutathione peroxidase, several isozymes of super oxide dismutase and minerals such as zinc and selenium, present in Aloe seem to be responsible for its antioxidative property.