Investigation of Aloe ferox leaf powder on anti-diabesity activity.
Mokhele, M.S. ; Tswaledi, D. ; Aboyade, O. ; Shai, J. ; Katerere, D.
Mokhele, M.S.
Tswaledi, D.
Aboyade, O.
Shai, J.
Katerere, D.
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Abstract
Obesity and diabetes contribute largely to increased morbidity and mortality globally. However, the treatment of obesity is not well established, hence plant materials are being considered for the development of new anti-diabesity therapies. Aloe ferox has been used for different medicinal purposes, but the research on its anti-diabesity activity is limited. This study therefore aimed to investigate the anti-diabesity potential of Aloe ferox leaf powder. Sprague Dawley rats assigned into 2 groups consisting of 8 animals each were fed with either a high fat diet (HFD; control), or a high fat diet containing Aloe ferox leaf powder (HFD-AL; treatment) over a period of 12 weeks. The animals were weighed weekly and their food consumption was monitored three times a week. Blood samples were collected after 12 weeks and analysed for liver function, fructosamine level, cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Furthermore, the aqueous and 50% dichloromethane methanol extracts of A. ferox leaf powder were also analysed for their a-amylase and a-glucosidase inhibition potential. Phytochemical analysis was done using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) to identify active compounds. Body weight gain was lower in animals on HFD-AL than HFD only. Fructosamine level was significantly lower in HFD-AL than HFD animals at p<0.05. HFD-AL animals also presented with lower cholesterol and triglycerides levels as well as less adipose tissue than animals in the control. Histology examination did not reveal any lesions due to toxic effects in any of the organs in both groups. Aloe ferox leaf extracts showed potential inhibition of a-glucosidase, with little effect on a-amylase inhibition in vitro assays. Aloe ferox leaf powder showed the presence of isoferulic acid-3-glucoronide, chrysophanol-8-O-glucoside, oleic acid and stearic acid. While Aloe ferox water extract showed the presence of isorhamnetin, cinnamic acid and caffeoylshikimic acid. Aloe ferox leaf powder showed potential to prevent weight gain and possible hypoglycaemic effect in animals fed with high fat diet. It also showed potential glucose modulation activity through inhibition of a-glucosidase enzyme activity.
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Date
2019-04-19
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Publisher
Elsevier
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Keywords
Amylase, Diabetes, Glucosidase, High fat diet, Obesity, Weight gain