Nur Atik, Yogi Umbarawan, Windi Nurdiawan, Erda Avriyanti, Achadiyani, ‎Rovina Ruslami

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) becomes a global health problem nowadays. COPD occurs due to an imbalance condition between oxidants and antioxidants in the lung. Further, preventing damage of the lung that caused by free radical is needed to be done. One of the examples is by consuming natural materials that increase levels and activity of antioxidants. Laboratory experiments have been conducted using rat male (Rattus novergicus). Rats were randomly selected and grouped into three groups and each contains 8 rats. The comparison group was not given any treatment, the control group and the treatment were given cigarette smoke exposure of 8 cigarettes for 30 minutes every day. The treatment group was given A. vera gel consumption, one hour prior to the exposure of cigarette smoke. Six weeks after treatment, all of the rats were terminated and the lungs were collected and histologically prepared for stained by Haematoxylin-Eosin. The results showed that the number of alveoli epithelial cells of the cigarette smoke with A. vera group are higher compared to the cigarette smoke group only. Additionally, the diameter of the alveoli was smaller than the group given only cigarettes smoke (p <0.05). We conclude that administration of 1 ml of aloe gel orally/day given prior to exposure with cigarette smoke could protect the lungs from damage.