Evaluation of Radioprotective Efficacy of Aloe vera Leaf Extract in Mouse Intestinal Mucosa after Low Level Exposure to Gamma Radiation

The mice selected from inbrecd colony were divided into two groups to evaluate radio protective efficacy of Aloe vera leaf extract in intestine of Swiss albino mice (Ig/kg body wt/ day). The first group was given Aloe vera orally for 15lh consecutive day and served as experimental group and other group received DDW (vol. equal to Aloe vera). On the 15th day, after 30 min. of above treatment animals of both the groups were exposed to 0.5 Gy gamma radiation and autopsied on 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and day 5, 10 and 20, Mitotic figures, dead cells and cells in crypt/crypt section of jejunum in animals of both control and experimental groups were counted. Dead cells were completely absent in the experimental group. Mitotic figures and crypt cell population were also higher in this group as compared with control group. Thus, Aloe vera was found to have positive influence against radiation induced alterations in intestine of Swiss albino mice.