Yolanda Y. Pérez
Correspondence to: Dr. Yolanda Y. Pérez, Centro de Investigación en Plantas Medicinales Para el Desarrollo de Fitomedicamentos, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Argentina No. 1, Xochitepec, Morelos, México, CP 62790. Tel/Fax: (+52) 777-3-612-155.
Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xochitepec, Morelos, México
Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City, Mexico
Enrique Jiménez-Ferrer
Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xochitepec, Morelos, México
Alejandro Zamilpa
Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xochitepec, Morelos, México
Marcelino Hernández-Valencia
Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Endocrinólogicas, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI (CMN-SXXI), IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
Francisco J. Alarcón-Aguilar
División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (UAM-I), Mexico City, Mexico
Jaime Tortoriello
Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xochitepec, Morelos, México
Rubén Román-Ramos
División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (UAM-I), Mexico City, Mexico

Insulin resistance, which precedes type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is a widespread pathology associated with the metabolic syndrome, myocardial ischemia, and hypertension. Finding an adequate treatment for this pathology is an important goal in medicine. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effect of an extract from Aloe vera gel containing a high concentration of polyphenols on experimentally induced insulin resistance in mice. A polyphenol-rich Aloe vera extract (350 mg/kg) with known concentrations of aloin (181.7 mg/g) and aloe-emodin (3.6 mg/g) was administered orally for a period of 4 weeks to insulin resistant ICR mice. Pioglitazone (50 mg/kg) and bi-distilled water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Body weight, food intake, and plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose were measured and insulin tolerance tests were performed. The insulin resistance value was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Results showed that the polyphenol-rich extract from Aloe vera was able to decrease significantly both body weight (p < 0.008) and blood glucose levels (p < 0.005) and to protect animals against unfavorable results on HOMA-IR, which was observed in the negative control group. The highest glucose levels during the insulin tolerance curve test were in the negative control group when compared to the Aloe vera extract and pioglitazone treated mice (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Aloe vera gel could be effective for the control of insulin resistance.

Aloe vera Gel; Aloin; Aloe-Emodin; Insulin Resistance; Medicinal Plants