The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Aloe vera (L.) Brum.F on the Movment of Large Intestine of Male Rats and Its Interaction with Cholinergic, Adrenergic and Nitric Oxide System

The leaves of the Aloe Vera plant (yellow aloe) have long been used in medicine and nutrition by various communities. Some physiological effects of this plant have long been used to treat some gastrointestinal disorders such as gastric ulcer and gastric acid return to the esophagus. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Aloe Vera leaf on the movements of the isolated colon of male rats and its interaction with cholinergic, adrenergic and nitric oxide systems.

In the present study conducted in 2016, 25 rats were included in the study. 20 mature male rats of Wistar race with the average weight between 180 to 250 grams and three months of age were randomly chosen. The mice were kept in light controlled conditions (12 hours cycle of lightness and darkness) and temperature of 22±2 degrees Celsius and enough food and water for one week. Adult male rats were anesthetized by ethyl ether, their colon tissue (ascending) separated and divided into 1 cm segments. The parts were connected to a force transducer longitudinally and inserted to an organ bath with oxygenated thyrod solution (37 ° C, pH = 7.4). The mechanical activity of their colon was recorded by force isotonic transducer  and Power Lab AD instrument in basal condition, and after administration of acetylcholine10-6 M , atropine1.7×  10-3 M, epinephrine 10-6 M, propranolol 10-6 M and L-NAME10-4  M in the presence and absence of the extract. The collected data were analyzed using Independent Sample T-Test and considering p≤0.05 as a significant level. (P≤0.05 ).

Tissue mechanical activity in the presence of extract was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Furthermore, a significant decrease in tissue mechanical activity was observed in the presence of combined extract and propranolol compared with the control group, but a significant difference in the presence of acetylcholine, atropine, epinephrine, nitric oxide synthetize inhibitor (L-NAME) and the extract in comparison with the control group was not observed (p≤0.05).

The present study indicated that the hydroalcoholic extract of aloe vera leaf had a modulating effect on colonic movements, which may be related to the cholinergic and nitrogenous systems and is independent of the adrenergic system.