Comparative effects of garlic and aspirin on diabetic cardiovascular complications.

By using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as a studied model, our previous experimental results have indicated that daily oral feeding of garlic extract (100 mg/kg BW) could increase the cardiovascular functions in streptozotocin (STZ) rats; the abnormality of lipid profile was prevented; and garlic extract could increase fibrinolitic activities with the decrease of platelet aggregation. Moreover, the plasma insulin level was increased concomitantly with the decrease of plasma glucose level. However, due to the high incidence of atherosclerosis in diabetes, the present study has been continued for further investigation of the effect of garlic extract on the coronary vascular ultrastructural changes. In addition, to identify the possible mechanism(s) of garlic's therapeutic effects, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, aspirin, has been included in this present study. By using transmission electron microscopic studies, 16 weeks of daily oral feeding of garlic extract (100 mg/kg BW) caused as an antiatherosclerotic agent at the coronary arteriolar (15-30 microns) wall in STZ-rats. Interestingly, the thickening of coronary capillary (5-10 microns) basement membrane also was significantly attenuated within the group of STZ-rats treated with garlic extract. However, the possible direct action of garlic through the cyclooxygenase pathway has not been confirmed by the results of aspirin: The daily oral feeding of aspirin (10 mg/kg BW) in 16-week STZ-rats has not showed reduced arteriolar vascular wall abnormalities. The irregular patterns of fiber matrix, arranging the basement membrane at the arteriolar walls, were still recognized in the same manner as in STZ-rats. Interestingly, the thickening of the capillary basement membrane occurred in 16-week STZ-rats seems to be attenuated by the aspirin received. At present, garlic extract may open the new era in the medicinal use of garlic to prevent diabetic cardiovascular complications.

Therapeutic effects of Aloe vera on cutaneous microcirculation and wound healing in second degree burn model in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the microcirculatory and wound healing effects of Aloe vera on induced second degree burn wounds in rats. METHOD: A total of 48 male Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 groups as follows: sham controls, untreated burn-wound rats, those treated with once-daily application of normal saline (NSS) and those treated with once-daily application of lyophilized Aloe vera gel. The animals in each group were equally subdivided into 2 subgroups for the study of cutaneous microcirculation and wound healing on day 7 and 14 after burn. Dorsal skinfold chamber preparation and intravital fluorescence microscopic technique were performed to examine dermal microvascular changes, including arteriolar diameter, postcapillary venular permeability and leukocyte adhesion on postcapillary venules. RESULTS: On day 7, the vasodilation and increased postcapillary venular permeability as encountered in the untreated burn were found to be reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in both the NSS- and Aloe vera-treated groups, but to a greater extent in the latter. Leukocyte adhesion was not different among the untreated, NSS- and Aloe vera-treated groups. On day 14, vasoconstriction occurred after the wound had been left untreated. Only in the Aloe vera-treated groups, was arteriolar diameter increased up to normal condition and postcapillary venular permeability was not different from the sham controls. The amount of leukocyte adhesion was also less observed compared to the untreated and NSS- treated groups. Besides, the healing area of the Aloe vera-treated wound was better than that of the untreated and NSS- treated groups during 7 and 14 days after burn. CONCLUSION: Aloe vera could exhibit the actions of both anti-inflammation and wound healing promotion when applied on a second degree burn wound.