Alleviation of diabetes mellitus through the restoration of ß-cell function and lipid metabolism by Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. extract in obesogenic WNIN/GR-Ob rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. extract has been medicinally used for over 5000 years in different cultures for its curative and therapeutic properties ranging from dermatitis to diabetes. It has been demonstrated to alleviate diabetes through its protective effects on pancreatic islets and by improving insulin secretion. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the simultaneous effect of ethanolic A. vera gel extract on diabetes and obesogenic milieu in Streptozotocin-induced WNIN/GR-Ob mutant obese rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 rats were grouped equally into WNIN/GR-Ob control (received water as a vehicle), WNIN/GR-Ob Diabetic rats (Streptozotocin-35 mg/kg bw), WNIN/GR-Ob Diabetic rats + Sitagliptin (10 mg/kg bw), WNIN/GR-Ob Diabetic rats + A. vera (300 mg/kg bw) and GR-Ob control + A. vera (300 mg/kg bw). After 4 weeks of treatment, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment - Insulin Resistance and ß-cell function, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV activity, and lipid profiles were studied. In addition, ultrastructural analysis of isolated islets and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis for body composition were also carried out. RESULTS: The A. vera treated group showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in triglyceride, Very low-density lipoprotein levels, Triglyceride to High-density lipoprotein ratio as well as fasting blood glucose levels and DPP-IV activity with a concomitant increase in the serum insulin levels. The increase in IR was observed in both WNIN/GR-Ob control and diabetic rats with a significant decrease in ß-cell function in the diabetic rats as per Homeostatic Model Assessment values. Oral administration of A. vera was effective in both reducing Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance and increasing Homeostatic Model Assessment-ß values. Also, the treated group demonstrated preservation of islets and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the diameter of ß-cell as evident through Scanning electron microscope analysis. The increase in lean body mass was manifested in the treated group with a reduction in Fat percent in comparison with other groups. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of A. vera in WNIN/GR-Ob strain may be attributed to its ability to lower lipid profile thus improve insulin sensitivity and/or modulating ß-cell function. Thus, it has great therapeutic potential as an herbal remedy for the treatment of diabetes and associated adverse effects such as obesity. The exact mechanism underlying the observation needs to be investigated further to explore the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties of A. vera and advocate its potential application as alternative medicine.

Toxicological studies on debitterized Neem oil (Azadirachta indica).

Azadirachta indica, popularly known as 'Neem' in India, is widely grown all over the tropics. The seed contains 45% oil and is a minor oil of considerable potential. Neem oil is bitter and inedible. Recently, a method has been developed to completely remove the bitter and odoriferous principles and leave a bitterless, odourless and colourless oil. The nutritional and chemical evaluation of debitterized neem oil (NO) was reported earlier (C. Rukmini, Food Chemistry 1987, 26, 119). We report here a three-generation study, carried out according to WHO/FDA protocol in groups of 15 male and 15 female rats fed a diet containing 10% NO or groundnut oil (GNO). Reproductive toxicology was monitored for three generations. The results obtained in both the matings in all the three generations did not show any adverse effects on the reproductive parameters studied in rats fed NO and were similar to those observed in rats fed GNO. The mean organ weights and the histopathological evaluation of all the organs were similar to those of the control (GNO-fed) rats. A mutagenicity test of NO was also found to be negative in Ames test as reported earlier (K. Polasa and C. Rukmini, Food and Chemical Toxicology 1987, 25, 763). These studies indicate that NO devoid of all the bitter and odoriferous principles, may be recommended as safe for consumption by humans.