Effect of Aloe vera on Submandibular Salivary Gland of Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats.

Salivary gland hypofunction has a negative impact on the oral tissues. Diabetes mellitus is one of different causes for salivary gland hypofunction. There are many structures in the salivary gland that may have a relation to its hypofunction such as aquaporin-5, which important for transcellular water transport in the salivary glands. It is suggested that the disturbance in aquaporin-5 causes reduction in the salivary secretion. Salivary gland hypofunction also has been associated with inflammation and nitric oxide over production. However glibenclamide is the most common and more safe hypoglycemic drug, it cause unneeded side effects like any other synthetic drugs. For that reason, there is another alternative therapies using herbs and plants. One of the plants that have antidiabetic action is Aloe vera. This study aimed mainly to evaluate the biological effect of Aloe vera on the submandibular salivary gland in streptozotocin induced diabetic white albino rats. sixty-two albino rats were divided into four groups: I) control group, II) diabetic group without any treatment, III) diabetic group + Aloe vera, IV) diabetic group + glibanclamide. Induction of diabetes was done by single intrapritoneal injection of streptozotocin. Then blood glucose levels and body weight were measured, submandibular salivary glands were isolated, and immunohistochemical for inducible nitric oxide synthase and aquaporin-5 were done. The Aloe vera treated group showed, at the end of experiment, decrease in the blood glucose level, and nearly normal body weight, and immunohistochemically, inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and aquaporin-5 expression were not significantly changed compared to control group.