title: Dietary aloin, aloesin, or aloe-gel exerts anti-inflammatory activity in a rat colitis model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aloe has been a very popular folk remedy for inflammation-related pathological conditions despite the lack of studies reporting its efficacy in vivo. The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of aloe components (aloin, aloesin and aloe-gel) known to be biologically active in the rat model of colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed experimental diets for 2 weeks before and during the induction of colitis. Drinking water containing 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was provided for 1 week to induce colitis. At the end of the experimental period, clinical and biochemical markers were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations were significantly decreased in all groups supplemented with aloe components compared to the colitis control group (p<0.05). Animals fed both a 0.1% and 0.5% aloesin supplemented diet showed colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities which were decreased by 32.2% and 40.1%, respectively (p<0.05). Colonic mucosa TNF-α and interleukin-1ß (IL-1β) mRNA expressions were significantly reduced in all animals fed aloin, aloesin, or aloe-gel (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary supplementation of aloe components ameliorates intestinal inflammatory responses in a DSS-induced ulcerative colitis rat model. In particular, aloesin was the most potent inhibitor. Further studies are required for a more complete understanding of the specific mechanism of the action of these supplements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 140-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hoon-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002867:Chromones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004642:Emodin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005782:Gels; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002867:Chromones; D005782:Gels; D005960:Glucosides; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D009195:Peroxidase; D004642:Emodin; C006457:alloin; C069868:aloesin