Effects of Aloe vera Extract on Hematological Parameters of Male Albino Wistar Rats Exposed to Monosodium Glutamate

This study investigated the potential of Aloe vera extract to mitigate the hematological toxicity induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) in male Wistar albino rats. Although MSG is classified as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by regulatory bodies, high-dose or chronic consumption has been linked to systemic effects in animal studies, including disturbances in blood parameters. The research aimed to determine the effects of MSG on key hematological indices, such as packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and hematocrit levels. The study found that MSG exposure caused a significant decline in these parameters in the induced-untreated group compared to the control group, indicating anemia and potential immune suppression. Conversely, Aloe vera has been shown to have hematoprotective properties in various models of chemical-induced toxicity. In this study, the co-administration of Aloe vera extract demonstrated a dose-dependent ameliorative effect, restoring the compromised blood parameters towards normal ranges. The medium and high dose Aloe vera treatments showed the most significant improvement. The low-dose Aloe vera treatment also showed some level of improvement with increased PCV, RBC count, HB concentration, (MCHC), platelet count excluding MCV and MCH which failed to improve. The protective effects are likely due to the antioxidant and hematopoietic properties of Aloe vera's bioactive compounds, which help counteract MSG-induced oxidative damage and support blood cell production. These findings validate the potential of Aloe vera as a natural agent for mitigating the adverse hematological effects of dietary additives like MSG.