Protective and Ameliorative Effects of <i>Aloe vera</i> Gel on Cisplatin Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Cisplatin (Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II, CP) is an important chemotherapeutic agent, useful in the treatment of cancer, but with several side effects such as nephrotoxicity.
Objective: The present study investigated the effect of Aloe vera gel (AVG) and selenium on Cisplatin induced oxidative stress on the kidneys and livers of male and female Wistar albino rats.
Methods: Male and female Wistar albino rats were injected with a single dose of cisplatin (7mg CP/kg b.m., i.p.), selenium (6mg Se/kg b.m, as Na₂SeO₃ , i.p.) and Aloe vera (6mg Se/kg b.m), alone or in combination.
Results: The result showed that CP increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations were significantly higher in male wistar albino rats than in female wistar albino rats when treated with Aloe vera, suggesting male wistar albino rats were more susceptible to CP- induced oxidative stress than female wistar albino rats; Aloe vera served as a potent antilipidemic source and boosted immunity; reversed CPinduced kidney and liver damage in both male and female rats. Pre-treatment with selenium and Aloe vera limited CPinduced alterations of antioxidant enzyme activities and significantly prevented CP-induced kidney and liver damage. The levels of pretreated groups had a lower activity of these enzymes with the Aloe vera group having the lowest activities of these enzymes. Histological studies on the kidneys and livers of male and female Wistar albino rats showed significant damage.
Conclusion: The nutritional Aloe vera possessed antioxidant components which prevented and ameliorated oxidative stress and loss of cellular antioxidants induced by Cisplatin in rats.

Keywords: Cisplatin; selenium; nephrotoxicity; lipid peroxidation; antioxidant defense system, rat