Anti-ulcer effect of Aloe vera in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced peptic ulcers in rats

This study was performed to determine the effects of Aloe vera on indomethacin induced ulcers in rats. Albino rats (Wister strain) of either sex weighing between 150 and 200 gms were randomly allotted into four groups with six animals each. Indomethacin was administered orally in the dose of 20 mg/kg body weight and kept fasting for 6 h. A. vera powder was mixed with gum acacia, the solution was administered orally through the oral gavage to rats in the dose of 200 mg/kg. Omeprazole (20 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally as a standard drug for present study. At the end of the study, rats were sacrificed and stomachs were opened and stored in 5% formalin solution, ulcer index and histological changes were studied. Student-'t' test analysis was used for the present study. It was found that A. vera showed statistically significant anti-ulcer activity comparable to standard drug omeprazole. The mean ulcer indexes of two drugs were statistically significant (P value is < 0.001). Therefore, the results were suggestive of anti ulcerogenic activity of A. vera.