Attenuation of diabetes linked testicular co-morbidity by Aloe vera: A dose-dependent transection study

The study demonstrated the management efficacy of Aloe vera leaf gel extract against diabetes induced testicular co-morbidity in rat.

Healthy and fertile rats were allowed for diabetes induction by streptozotocin injection at 40 mg dose/kg of somatic weight. Diabetic rats were treated for 28 days at 10, 20, 40 mg doses of hydro-ethanol (40:60, v/v) extract of Aloe vera gel or metformin at 2 mg/100 g of somatic weight as positive-control. On 29^th day, rats were euthanized and sacrificed. The ameliorative effects were assessed covering glycemic, androgenic, spermatogenic, oxidative stress, histological, genomic and toxicity parameters following established methods. This recovery was compared against diabetic and positive-control groups.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, antioxidant and key androgenic enzyme activities, serum testosterone level and values of sperm parameters were diminished, confirming testicular co-morbidity in diabetes. Simultaneously, fasting blood sugar level, glucose-6-phosphatase activity, seminal vesicular fructose, testicular cholesterol, lipid peroxidation metabolite's level and toxicity sensors were elevated in diabetic group. Significant amelioration (p < 0.05) in these parameters along with improved gene expression of testicular Δ⁵,3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Bax, and Bcl2 were observed in extract or metformin treated positive-control group, supported by histoarchitectures of testis, pancreas, and liver. The recovery percentages of the sperm parameters were 15-30% more in 20 mg, the maximum effective dose treated group than the positive-control group. The phytocompounds were characterized by GC-MS study.

Aloe vera extract may be used as an alternative to the gold standard anti-diabetic drug from the view point of cafeteria choice.