EFFECTS OF ALOE-VERA INGESTION IN THE RAT - II - HORMONAL AND METABOLIC CHARACTERISTICS

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of long-term (1.5 and 5.5 months) Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) ingestion on a variety of me tabolic parameters of Fischer 344 male rats. Rats were fed Aloe vera p owders produced by two different methods and mixed with rat chow at va rious concentrations. Process A Aloe was prepared from skinned Aloe fi lets by homogenization followed by lyophilization and included in the rat chow at the 1% level. Process B Aloe was prepared similarly except the homogenate was charcoal filtered prior to lyophilization and mixe d with chow at both 1% and 10% levels. Plasma concentrations of parath yroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were lower in the older (7 month) A loe fed than in the control rats of the same age. No statistically sig nificant effects were observed at the younger age (3 month). Aloe feed ing did not alter the plasma glucose and insulin levels at any age and had only minor effects on the plasma corticosterone concentrations in the older rats. Serum lipid peroxides were decreased by Aloe feeding, but the malondialdehyde production of cardiac and hepatic mitochondri al and microsomal membranes were unaffected. No alteration in protein turnover was observed in the Aloe fed rats. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons , Ltd.