ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF ALOE VERA GEL

The current treatment of inflammation includes NSAIDs, selective COX-2 inhibitors, glucocorticoids and anti-TNF alpha has peptic ulcer, renal and hematological toxic side effects as well as some of these drugs are more expensive. Hence it is necessary to evaluate the new cost effective as well as less toxic drug. Aloe vera showing a lots of promise and hence researcher all over are trying to harness the anti-inflammatory potential of Aloe vera. Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of Aloe vera gel extract. Methodology: The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by using carrageenan induced rat paw edema model for acute inflammation and cotton pellet granuloma for chronic inflammation and to evaluate the ulcer potential. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated by phagocytic activity of Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) on Candida cells. Results: The Aloe vera gel extract in the doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, show significant anti-inflammatory activity while 400mg/kg show equal anti-inflammatory activity as that of Aspirin on acute model of inflammation. Aloe vera gel is not having ulcer potential as that of Aspirin. Aloe vera gel extract at large doses i.e. 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg show significant immune stimulant activity. But Aloe vera gel did not show chronic anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: Aloe vera gel extract has better acute anti-inflammatory activity with good immune stimulant activity. But has no ulcer potential like that of NSAIDs and also have no chronic anti-inflammatory activity.