Improved Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Packed Cell Volume following administration of <em>Aloe barbadensis</em> Juice Extract in Rats

Abstract

Aloe barbadensis is a popular house plant that has a long history of a multipurpose folk remedy. It has been documented to have anti-diabetic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects. The effect of Aloe barbadensis juice extract on erythrocyte osmotic fragility, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration in Wistar rats was investigated.

Twenty rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group A served as Control and received distilled water ad libitum, while groups B, C and D were the experimental groups and received 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg body weight of extract respectively, orally for four weeks. The animals were sacrificed and their blood was collected through cardiac puncture. The erythrocyte osmotic fragility, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration were determined.

The results showed significant reductions (p<0.05) in the erythrocyte osmotic fragility in the groups that received 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg of the extract when compared to the control group and also significant increases (p<0.05) in the packed cell volume of rats that received 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg body weight of the extract.

The result suggests dose-dependent protective and modulatory effects of Aloe barbadensis on the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane and on the packed cell volume, respectively.

Keywords: osmotic fragility, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, Aloe vera