HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ALOE VERA POLYSACCHARIDES AGAINST AFLATOXIN B1-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective property of Aloe vera polysaccharides (APs), the main bioactive components in Aloe vera gel, against AFB(1)-induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats using biochemical and histopathological approaches. As a result, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin levels were found to be significantly increased in AFB(1)-intoxicated rats (2 mg/kg body weight), indicating severe liver damage. Supplementation of APs for 3 days restored these markers to near-normal, which could be reconfirmed by the attenuation of hepatic histopathological changes. Compared with AFB(1)-intoxicated rats, administration of APs significantly inhibited the elevation of lipid peroxidation and the decrease in enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants in the liver. Moreover, the dramatic decline of hepatic mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly attenuated by APs in AFB(1)-intoxicated rats. These results indicated that APs possess a potent protective effect against AFB(1)-induced hepatotoxicity, and the main mechanisms involved in the hepatoprotection could be associated with its strong ability in improving ROS scavenging and detoxification by enhancing the levels of both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants. All the results showed that APs is a potent protector agent against AFB(1)-induced hepatotoxicity.