title: Mineral contents of aloe vera leaf gel and their role on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The role of some inorganic elements like vanadium, zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, manganese, and traces of chromium in the improvement of impaired glucose tolerance and their indirect role in the management of diabetes mellitus are being increasingly recognized. In traditional methods, medicinal plants are being used, which contain both organic and inorganic constituents. In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the inorganic elements present in Aloe vera leaf gel and their role on diabetes-related biochemical alterations in experimental rats. Special emphasis was given to the inorganic parts by carefully preparing ash of the leaf gel. The results clearly indicate the presence of several hypoglycemic-activity-possessing elements in the gel. The ash treatment also resulted in hypoglycemic action. In conclusion, the presence of various inorganic trace elements in the gel might account for the hypoglycemic nature of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sivagnanam
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramanian
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014131:Trace Elements; D014508:Urea; D005905:Glyburide