Anti-diabetic activity of Aloe excelsa.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Aloe excelsa powder on diabetes.
Design: The experiment was carried out in the laboratory on both normal and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in the rats by using streptozotocin. Thereafter, blood samples were taken from both the normal and diabetic rats and the sugar levels measured by using the Accutrend Alpha blood glucose monitoring kit.
Setting: The experiment was conducted in the laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe.
Subjects: A total of 280 male albino rats weighing 250 g on average were used. They were obtained from the Animal House of the Medical School at the University of Zimbabwe.
Main Outcome Measures: Reduction in sugar levels.
Results: The Aloe excelsa powder produced a dose-dependent reduction in the blood glucose in blood glucose levels. It also compared well with the effect of insulin.
Conclusion: This study shows that Aloe excelsa has significant activity on glucose levels in rats and this, therefore, confirms the claims by traditional healers that this plant has anti-diabetic effects.