Effects of Aloe Vera on healing of colonic anastomoses: experimental rat study

Although herbal medicinal products are being used widely throughout the World, beneficial and harmful effects have not been well documented. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of Aloe Vera (AV) on colonic anastomosis healing. 112 albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five main groups: preoperative Aloe Vera Group (P), pre- and postoperative Aloe Vera Group (PP), Control Group (C), sham Aloe Vera Group (SA) and Sham Control Group (SC). Groups P, PP, and SA received 1.6mL/kg per day Aloe Vera by orogastric feeding catheter for 1 month prior to the experiment. Groups P, PP, and C underwent anastomosis of the distal colon, and subgroups (n=4) of each were sacrificed on postoperative day 3, 7, 14 and 21. Anastomotic bursting pressure, perianastomotic collagen content and histopathological changes were studied. The SC Group had significantly higher ABP when compared with the SA Group (p=0.0002), although hydroxyproline content showed no difference. When ABP was compared between anastomosis groups, it was found significantly lower in Aloe Vera groups on Day 3 (P3 vs. C3, p=0.003 and PP3 vs. C3, p=0.007). Hydroxyproline content was significantly lower in Group PP than Group C, also on Day 3 (p=0.05). Significant difference was not detected after Day 3 in any of the study parameters. Aloe Vera decreased tissue collagen content in the early postoperative period. It is advisable to call into question the concomitant usage of conventional medicine and the herbal supplements for the surgeons in their clinical practice. Embora os medicamentos à base de plantas sejam amplamente utilizados no mundo inteiro, seus efeitos (benéficos e prejudiciais) não estão bem documentados. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da Aloe vera (AV) na cicatrização de anastomoses colônicas. 112 ratos Wistar albinos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco grupos principais: AV pré-operatório (P), AV pré e pós-operatório (PP), controle (C), sham AV (SA) e sham controle (SC). Os grupos P, PP e SA receberam AV em uma dose de 1,6mL/kg por dia por sonda de alimentação orogástrica por 1 mês antes do experimento. Os grupos P, PP e C foram submetidos a anastomose do cólon distal. Subgrupos (n=4) de cada grupo foram sacrificados no terceiro, sétimo, 14° e 21° dias pós-operatórios. Os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: pressão de ruptura anastomótica (PRA), conteúdo de colágeno perianastomótico e alterações histopatológicas. O grupo SC apresentou PRA significativamente maior