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Effect of Aloe vera gel on Small Intestinal Motility and Transit in Alloxan - Induced Diabetic Rats

Akpan Ubom Paul, Nna Victor Udo, Ofutet Emmanuel Oleba and Osim Eme Effiom

The use of Aloe vera gel in the management of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is widely known in Nigeria. Since DM is associated with altered small intestinal motility and transit, this study therefore seeks to ascertain the impact of treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with Aloe vera gel on small intestinal motility and transit. Thirty two male albino wistar rats weighing 180 - 200 g were randomly assigned 1 of 4 groups, with group 1 serving as control, group 2 - test 1 (diabetic untreated), group 3 - test 2 (diabetic treated) and group 4 - test 3 (treated control). The dose of Aloe vera gel used was 0.4 ml/100g daily, per oral route. After 21 days of administration, animals were sacrificed and intestinal motility and transit experiments were carried out on the isolated rat ileum using appropriate methods. Acetylcholine (ACh) and atropine were used to challenge the isolated rat ileum. Results obtained showed that test 1 had altered pattern of small intestinal motility compared to control when ACh was used to challenge the rat ileum. Test 2 showed a contraction pattern similar to that of control, while test 3 recorded a rather reduced contraction compared to control. In response to atropine, percentage relaxation in test 3 was significantly (p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001) higher compared to control, test 1 and 2 respectively. Percentage transit in test 1 and 3 was significantly (p<0.001) reduced compared to control. It was also significantly (p<0.05) reduced in test 2 compared to test 1. We therefore conclude that Aloe vera gel mitigates the altered small intestinal motility caused by T1DM, but potentiates the reduction in small intestinal transit caused by T1DM.