ABSTRACT
Aloe plants have been used medicinally for centuries. Recent widespread importance of commercial aloe vera has encouraged scientists to scientifically assess these products. The aim of this study was to assess the possible protective role of oral commercial aloe vera on gastric mucosal acute damage induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac sodium. Seventy adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups: group I [control], group II animals were given 200 mg/kg body weight of aloe vera once daily orally for 2 weeks, group III animals were administered a single oral dose of diclofenac sodium [80 mg/kg body weight] to induce acute gastric damage, group IV animals were given the same dose of aloe vera for 2 weeks followed by induction of acute gastric damage. Stomachs of animals of the four groups were studied macroscopically and microscopically. Morphometrical and statistical analyses were also carried out for determination of the percentage of area and depth of the mucosal lesion. This study showed that the percentage of area and depth of the mucosal lesions were significantly decreased in group IV in comparison with other groups. Microscopically, group IV and group III showed exfoliation of the surface epithelium, necrosis of some cells of the upper part of the gland, and loss of architecture of the basal part of the gland. Moreover, in group IV, periodic acid Schiff-Alcian blue-positive mucoussecreting cells appeared along the pits, neck, and isthmus with a thick periodic acid Schiff-Alcian blue-positive stained surface mucous film compared with a thin interrupted mucous film on the surface epithelium of the fundic mucosa in group III. Ultrathin sections showed predominance of mucous secretory cells with various types of mucoid granules in group IV. Commercial aloe vera provides a degree of protection against acute gastric mucosal damage mainly by increasing mucin secretion