The effect of aloe vera oral administration on cutaneous wound healing in type 2 diabetic rats

Delayed wound healing is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Aloe vera oral administration on open wounds in type 2 diabetic rats. Full thickness open wounds (1.5 × 1.5 cm) were created under general anesthesia on the backs of the rats. These rats were divided into two group, a control group (Group C) and an Aloe vera oral administration group (Group A). Each wound area was measured on days 1, 2, 4 and 8 postwounding. The stages of wound granulation tissues were evaluated histopathologically. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by immunohistochemically. The wounds were significantly contracted in Group A on days 2, 4 and 8 postwounding. Histological results revealed that the inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix deposition and epithelialization were promoted in Group A, respectively. The immunohistochemical results revealed that both TGF-β1 and VEGF protein-positive cells increased in Group A on day 4 postwounding. We concluded that Aloe vera oral administration accelerated wound healing in type 2 diabetic rats.