Abstract
The effects of aloe on liver function and lipid metabolic disorders induced by alcohol consumption were studied in rats using aloe power (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%) and 10% ethanol. 35 Sprague-Dawley (male, 4 weeks old) rats were divided into five groups and fed experimental diets for six weeks. Body weights of rats tended to be lower in all alcohol supplemented groups than in the control. Food intakes and dry feces per day were significantly lower in all alcohol supplemented groups than in the control. Atherogenic indices (AI) were highest in the alcohol group and decreased in proportion with aloe amount. Serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in the alcohol group than in the control, but tended to be lower in the aloe supplemented groups. In relation to liver function, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities tended to be higher in the alcohol groups than in the control, but lower in the aloe groups, especially in the alcohol+0.5% AO group. The levels of liver cholesterol were significantly lower in the alcohol group than in the control and aloe supplemented groups. In the histochemical evaluation, fat droplets appeared extensively on the liver-lobule in the alcohol group, whereas they decreased slightly in the alcohol+0.25% AO group and apparently disappeared in the alcohol +0.5% AO. On the other hand, fat droplets appeared again on the liver-lobule in the alcohol+1% AO group, but were reduced compared with the alcohol group. Regarding the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue triglycerides, the level of linoleic acid (18:2) was significantly higher in the aloe supplemented group. Regarding the fatty acid composition of liver phosphatidylcholine (PC), the level of linoleic acid was higher in the alcohol group and alcohol+1% AO group than the other groups. In contrast, the level of arachidonic acid was significantly lower in the alcohol group. As a result, arachidonic / linoleic acid ratios were significantly lower in the alcohol group compared to the control group, whereas the ratios of the aloe supplemented groups were similar to that of the control group. Therefore, aloe had some beneficial effects on lipid metabolic disorders induced by alcohol and affected desaturation of fatty acids.