Protective Effect of Aloe Vera Gel in Ulcerative Colitis: The Role of Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Factors

Aim and Background: Anti-inflammatory compounds are effective in improving the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aloe vera extract against the inflammatory factors affecting acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis. Materials and Methods: 32 male Wistar rats are divided into 4 groups of 8 including: control group, untreated colitis group, colitis group treated with aloe vera (200 mg / kg/ day) and sulfasalazine group as a standard treatment (500 mg /kg/ day) from two days before induction of colitis to 5 days after induction of colitis. Experimental colitis was induced by intrarectal injection of 2 ml of 3% acetic acid. Rats were sacrificed on the eighth day of induction of colitis and some factors involved in inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX II) and PGE2 levels in colon tissue were measured. Results: Inflammation induced in colon by acetic acid injection. Sulfasalazine and aloe vera reduced the inflammatory factor (tumor necrosis factor alpha) and increased anti-inflammatory factor (interleukin-10) in colon tissue. But they had no effect on the COX II and PGE2 levels in colon tissue. Conclusion: The results suggested that aloe vera could possibly improve colitis by suppressing inflammatory promoting factors and increasing anti-inflammatory factors.