Aloe Studies

Can Aloe Cure Cancer?

Aloe vera constituents have enormous potential to prevent and treat various diseases.

Repellency and Fumigant Toxicity of Aloe vera, Astragalus sarcocolla, Commiphora myrrha and Ferula assa-foetida L Gum Resin Powders and Methanol …

Pharmacological update properties of Aloe vera and its major active constituents.

Antibacterial

• Aloe has anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Aloe vera can be used as an alternative anti-bacterial agent to prevent and treat some oral infectious diseases at higher concentration.
• Shigella flexneri and Streptococcus pyogenes are susceptible to aloe.
• A. vera gel could be active against P. aeruginosa in wound infections at various concentrations.
• Antibacterial effect of Aloe vera on bacteria isolated from cases of wound infection.
• Evaluation of Aloe vera gel combined with cinnamon oil with antibacterial activity for wound healing.

 Enterococcus faecalis

• A hydroalcoholic extract of A. vera showed the highest zone of inhibition against E. faecalis.
• Extracts of Neem, Noni and Aloe vera showed inhibitory effects against E. faecalis.

Antifungal

• Malaysian Aloe vera has a significant antifungal effect towards A. niger.
• Aloe vera ethanol extract possesses concentration dependent activity against Candida albicans that is comparable with standard antifungal agents.

Antioxidant

A functional beverage of mangosteen, aloe vera, green tea, and multivitamins enhances plasma antioxidant capacity in healthy adults.

Antiviral

• Aloe induces interferon and inhibits Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) and Enterovirus 71 (E71) replication.
• The anti-hepatitis B virus therapeutic potential of anthraquinones derived from Aloe vera.

Burns

Aloe vera fermentation significantly accelerates burn injury healing.

Cancer

• Aloe vera and honey treatment affect the tumor and host by different mechanisms by modulated host wasting and cachexia, while promoting oxidative stress and damage in tumor tissues.
• Aloe vera and honey solution and their ethanolic extraction solution could act on metastasis-regulating processes in Walker 256 tumor tissue.
• These results suggest that both aloe vera gel and powder may have chemopreventive effects on colorectal carcinogenesis under the high fat diets.
• This review highlights major research directions on aloes in preventing and treating cancer.
• Aloe-emodin significantly reduced the proliferation, stemness and invasive potential of melanospheres.
• Aloe vera and honey treatment affect the tumor and host by different mechanisms by modulated host wasting and cachexia, while promoting oxidative stress and damage in tumor tissues.
• Aloe vera gel could suppress colitis-related colon carcinogenesis.
• Oral administration of Aloe vera and honey inhibits cancer in rats.
• These results suggest that both aloe vera gel and powder may have chemopreventive effects on colorectal carcinogenesis under the high fat diets.
• A compound from aloe inhibits the growth of breast cancer cell lines.
• Aloe has an antileukaemic effect.
• Aloe induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma cells
• Aloe induces cell death in human lung nonsmall carcinoma.
• Aloe polysaccharide induces autophagy in pancreatic carcinoma BxPC-3 cells both alone and in concert with radiation.
• Aloe suppresses proliferation of gastric cancer cells.
• Aloe vera protein extract suppresses human IMR-32 neuroblastoma cell proliferation, possibly by suppressing CCND2 transcript levels in vitro.
• Photodynamic therapy with aloe emodin effectively suppressed cancer development in MCF-7cells.
• Supercritical extracts of aloe vera exhibit antitumor properties and modulate antioxidant enzymes.
• Supercritical extracts of aloe vera exhibit antitumor properties and modulate antioxidant enzymes.

Chemotherapy Support

• Aloe significantly improves chemotherapy treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers.
• These results signify that Aloe vera may be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drugs like cisplatin.
• Aloe vera on the prevention and treatment of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head-and-neck cancer.

Bone Health

NF-κB pathway inhibition by anthrocyclic glycoside aloin is key event in preventing osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells.

Dermatitis

• Topical aloe vera gel was effective in treating mild to moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the face.
• A. ferox and A. vera gels applied topically are a safe and useful alternative to antihistamines and topical corticosteroids for the treatment of recurring chronic atopic dermatitis.

Diabetes & Blood Sugar Control

• Antidiabetic activity of Aloe vera leaves.
• Aloe vera gel improves behavioral deficits and oxidative status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
• The current evidence suggests some potential benefit of Aloe vera in improving glycaemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
• These results support the use of oral aloe vera for significantly reducing fasting blood glucose
• Aloe sap has significant antidiabetic activity in both humans and animals.
• A plant mixture comprising Nigella sativa, Myrrh, Gum Olibanum (Frankincense), Gum Asafoetida and Aloe lowers blood sugar by inhibiting hepatis gluconeogenesis
• Aloe vera has a potent effect in promoting corneal wound healing through facilitating re-epithilaization and reduction in inflammation in diabetic rats.
• Reduction of Fasting Blood Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c Using Oral Aloe Vera: A Meta-Analysis.
• Aloe vera gel improves behavioral deficits and oxidative status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
• Improvement of Insulin Secretion and Pancreatic β-cell Function in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Aloe vera Extract

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

A combination of hyper-oxygenated fatty acids, Aloe barbadensis (syn. A. vera) and Mimosa tenuiflora has therapetuic benefits in the treatment of vascular ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers.

Diarrhea

Aloe extract inhibits porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in vitro and in vivo.

Fluoride

Aloe vera, turmeric and holy basil suppress the adverse effects associated with maternal fluoride exposure.

Gastrointestinal

• Aloe vera could be used as a prebiotic aimed at improving gastrointestinal health.
• Application of aloe vera gel will increase TGF-β gene expression, ultimately accelerating the wound healing process.
• Dietary supplementation of aloe components ameliorates intestinal inflammatory responses in a DSS-induced ulcerative colitis model.

GERD

Efficacy and safety of Aloe vera syrup for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a pilot randomized positive-controlled trial.

Hepatoprotective

• Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of aloe vera in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
• Aloe vera mitigates dextran sulfate sodium-induced rat ulcerative colitis by potentiating colon mucus barrier.

Immunomodulating / Immunostimulating

These findings provide evidence for the immunomodulatory activity of orally administered Aloe vera gel.

Acemannan (primary polysaccharide from Aloe vera gel) incubated on special type of mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 for 24 h causes immunostimulation due to activation of macrophages Cooper JC, Turcasso N. Immunostimulatory effects of b-1,3 glucan and acemannan. JANA 1999;2:5e11.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

• The healing effect of Aloe vera gel on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis.
• Aloe vera gel has therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
• Aloe vera gel could be used to improve the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
• Aloe vera may have therapeutic value in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
• Aloe vera and ubiqinol have a protective and healing effect on experimental ulcerative colitis in rats.
• Randomized, double blind,  placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis

Immunomodulating

• These findings provide evidence for the immunomodulatory activity of orally administered Aloe vera gel.
• Effects of Aloe barbadensis Mill. extract (AVH200®) on human blood T cell activity in vitro.

Lichen planus

• Aloe gel may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment for patients with oral lichen planus.
• Aloe gel may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment for patients with vulval lichen planus.
• Topical aloe vera improves quality of life in patients with oral lichen planus.

Leishmaniasis

Aloe vera leaf extract has leishmanial activity.

Liver / Hepatoprotective

• Aloe has a protective effect against petroleum product hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity in mice.
• Aloe vera has a protective effect against lindane induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity.
• The administration of A. vera leaves aqueous extract was able to markedly protect rat liver from the pesticides-induced toxicity.

Multiple Sclerosis

Aloe vera therapy can attenuate the disease progression in experimental model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Oral Health

• Most studies showed statistically significant result demonstrating the effectiveness of Aloe vera in treatment of oral diseases.
• Aloe vera can be an alternative, safe, and effective treatment regime in the management of oral submucous fibrosis.
• Aloe vera gel can improve periodontal disease.
• Aloe vera was beneficial for dry mouth in denture patients.
• Efficacy of locally delivered Aloe vera hydrogel in patients with chronic periodontitis.
• Aloe vera may prove an effective mouthwash due to its ability in reducing dental plaque.
• Aloe vera mouthwash has comparable antiplaque efficacy as the gold standard 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate with fewer side effects.
• Aloe vera mouthwash significantly reduced the intensity of stomatitis and its pain in the intervention group.
• Aloe vera mouthwash was as beneficial as benzydamine mouthwash in alleviating the severity of radiation-induced mucositis.
• Aloe Vera mouthwash was found to be equally effective as chlorhexidine in reducing plaque and gingivitis.
• Improvement in all the parameters was seen with the individuals receiving Aloe vera gel in comparison to antioxidants.
• Spirulina appears to be more promising when compared to aloe vera for the treatment of Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF).’
• Aloe vera gel at optimum concentration could be used as an antiseptic for prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases.
• Aloe barbadensis can play a significant role in dentistry in treatment of lichen planus, oral submucous fibrosis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, alveolar osteitis, periodontitis.
• Aloe vera gel can be a useful topical treatment for oral HSV-1 infections.
• Curcumin gel and Aloe Vera gel are effective in improving oral submucous fibrosis symptoms.
• The effect of aloe vera toothpaste on plaque index and gingival index was similar to that of fluoride toothpaste.

Photoaged Skin

• Aloe gel significantly improves wrinkles and elasticity in photoaged human skin.
• Oral Aloe vera gel powder has the ability to prevent the skin photoaging.
• The dietary ingestion of Aloe sterols protected against chronic UVB damage in mouse skin.
• An aloe vera gel powder containing aloe sterols prevents skin damage induced by UVB irradiation.

Prebiotic

Aloe vera could be used as a prebiotic aimed at improving gastrointestinal health.

Psoriasis

Aloe gel is a safe and effective treatment for psoriasis

Radiation Protection

• Aloe vera haa radioprotective properties
• A. vera extract could ameliorate X-ray-induced damage.
• An aloe vera gel powder containing aloe sterols prevents skin damage induced by UVB irradiation.
• Vitamin E and Aloe vera helped decrease inflammatory responses and healing of the lesions induced on the tongue of rats subjected to radiation.
• Aloe vera modulates X-ray induced hematological and splenic tissue damage in mice.

Scabies

Aloe vera gel has been shown to be as effective as benzyl benzoate in the treatment of scabies.

Sciatic Nerve Injury

Aloe vera is an effective neuroprotective against sciatic nerve ischemia/reperfusion injury and was found to be as effective as methylprednisolone.

Sedative

Aloe vera extract has sedative-hypnotic effects in animals

Wound Healing

• Oral administration of Aloe vera ameliorates wound healing through improved angiogenesis and chemotaxis.
• Aloe vera gel had positive effects on cesarean wound healing when used as a dressing.
• Aloe Vera gel is a beneficial treatment and cost effective for patients with chronic ulcers.
• A. vera gel could be active against P. aeruginosa in wound infections at various concentrations.
• A honey, milk, and Aloe vera ointment has multiple healing effects on burn wounds in rats.
• A polyherbal formula containing Sea buckthorn (H. rhamnoides), Aloe and Turmeric (C. longa) possesses significant wound healing potential in both normal as well as chronic diabetic wounds.
• Aloe vera gel can effectively decrease adhesion formation if applied before, but not after, after peritoneal trauma.
• Application of aloe vera gel will increase TGF-β gene expression, ultimately accelerating the wound healing process.
• OP-Gel-Aloe treated wounds exhibited very rapid healing with 80% of the wound healing in just 8 days.
• The effect of Aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wounds.
• The present study confirmed that increased wound healing occurs following treatment with aloe emodin
• Topical Aloe Vera Gel for Accelerated Wound Healing of Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial and Systematic Review.
• The Effects of Aloe vera Cream on the Expression of CD4+ and CD8+ Lymphocytes in Skin Wound Healing
• Low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera exhibits gastroprotection by inducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitory activity in alcohol-induced acute gastric lesion tissues.
• Synergistic effect of Aloe vera flower and Aloe gel on cutaneous wound healing.