Dietary Aloe vera components' effects on cholesterol lowering and estrogenic responses in juvenile goldfish, Carassius auratus

Fish Physiol Biochem. 2013 Aug;39(4):851-61. doi: 10.1007/s10695-012-9745-7. Epub 2012 Nov 8.

Abstract

Aloes are now considered a very interesting source of bioactive compounds among which phytosterols should play a major role. The present study is an attempt to investigate the hypocholesterolemic activity of Aloe vera associated with its impact on the reproductive status of juvenile goldfish. Therefore, the short- and long-term effects of feeding supplementary diet containing aloe components (20 mg aloe/g diet; 2%) on plasma lipids, plasma vitellogenin, and hepatic estrogen receptor α/β1 mRNA levels in goldfish were examined. Results of GC-MS for phytosterols show high abundance of β-sitosterol in freeze-dried powder of Aloe vera whole leaves. Moreover, a 2% aloe powder dietary supplement was not found estrogenic in juvenile goldfish after either 7- or 30-day treatment, but was consistent in plasma hypocholesterolemic effects following long-term exposure. The present data further support that plasma cholesterol modulation induced by phytosterols may not be related to estrogen-like activity.

MeSH terms

  • Aloe* / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Goldfish / blood*
  • Goldfish / growth & development
  • Gonads / drug effects
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / drug effects
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Phytoestrogens / analysis
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism*
  • Sitosterols / analysis
  • Vitellogenins / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Lipids
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Plant Preparations
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Sitosterols
  • Vitellogenins
  • gamma-sitosterol