Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller Liquid)
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Table of Contents

A Layman’s Review of the Scientific Literature on Aloe Vera
By R. Hallowitz © 2005
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Abstracts of Professional Journal Literature on aloe vera
Please click on the following section titles for the abstracts
Antimicrobial (bacteria/fungi/parasites)

Aloe-emodin effects on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in the Bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Planta Med. 1998

Inhibition of collagenase and metalloproteinases by aloins and aloe gel. Life Sci. 2003

In vitro susceptibilities of Shigella flexneri and Streptococcus pyogenes to Inner gel of Aloe barbadensis Miller. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.2003

Relationship between antibacterial activity of aloe and its anthaquuinone compounds. Shongguo Shong Yao Za Zhi. 2003

Antifungal effects of different plant extracts and their major components of selected aloe species. Phytother Res. 1999

Effect of Leaf Extracts of Aloe arborescens Mill subsp. Natalenis Berger on Growth of Trichophyton mentagrophyte. Inst Pharacognosy ( Japan)

The action of an aqueous extract of Aloe barbadensis Miller in an in-vitro Culture of Trichomonas vaginalis. Rev Cubana Med Trop. 1995

In vitro studies of the photobiological properties of aloe emodin and aloin A. Free Radical Biol Med. 2003

Antiviral

• Effective against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, varicella-zoster virus, pseudorabies virus, influenza virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus

Inactivation of enveloped viruses by anthraquinones extracted from plants. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1991

• Effective vs chicken virus (Newcastle disease)

Evaluation of the efficacy of the crude extract of Aloe secundiflora in chickens experimentally infected with Newcastle disease virus. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002

Oxidative Damage Preventive

• Antioxidant

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2003

• Free radical scavenger (also cancer preventive, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic)

Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera. Planta Med. 2002

Anti-inflammatory

• Blocks pro-inflammatory cytokines --- directly reduces inflammation

Effects of Aloe vera on leukocyte adhesion and TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in burn wounded rats. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2003

• General anti-inflammatory properties

Aloe vera and gibberellin. Anti-inflammatory activity in diabetes. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1989

Anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera against a spectrum of irritants. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1989

Processed Aloe vera administered topically inhibits inflammation. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1989

Isolation of a stimulatory system in an Aloe extract. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1991

Aloe vera and the inflamed synovial pouch model. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1992

Aloeresin I, an anti-inflammatory 5-methylchromone from cape aloe. Planta Med. 2005
The role of thromboxane in experimental inadvertent intra-arterial drug injections. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1987
Biopharmaceutical assessment of eye drops containing aloe (Aloe arborescens Mill.) and neomycin sulphate. Acta Pol Pharm. 2002

Technology of eye drops containing aloe (Aloe arborescens Mill.—Liliaceae) and eye drops containing both aloe and neomycin sulphate. Acta Pol Pharm. 2003

Antiinflammatory activity of extracts from Aloe vera gel. J Ethnophar-macol. 1996

Antiinflammatory C-glucosyl chromone from Aloe barbadensis. J Nat Prod. 1996

• Increases wound tensile strength comparable to hydrocortisone

Aloe vera, hydrocortisone, and sterol influence on wound tensile strength and anti-inflammation. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1994

Immune Enhancer/Modulator ("adaptagen")

• Potent immunostimulatory activity

An anti-complementary polysaccharide with immunological adjuvant activity from the leaf parenchyma gel of Aloe vera. Planta Med. 1989

Enhancement of allo-responsiveness of human lymphocytes by acemannan (Carrisyn). Int J Immunopharmacol. 1988

Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity. J Agric Food Chem. 2001

Acemannan purified from Aloe vera induces phenotypic and functional maturation of immature dendritic cells. Int Immunopharmacol. 2001

Cancer Tumor Suppressive / Cancer Preventive

• Antimicrobial/antiviral --- see detail above
• Anti-inflammatory --- see detail above
• Cell cycle arrest---stops cancer cell maturation prior to cell division

Aloe-emodin induced in vitro G2/M arrest of cell cycle in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2004

• Promotes apoptosis---programmed cell cancer death

Induction of apoptosis in human leukaemic cell lines K562, HL60 and U937 by diethylhexylphthalate isolated from Aloe vera Linne. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2000

• In vitro inhibition of multiple cancer cell lines

Aloe-emodin induced in vitro G2/M arrest of cell cycle in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2004

Aloe-emodin is a new type of anticancer agent with selective activity against neuroectodermal tumors. Cancer Res. 2000

The effect of aloe emodin on the proliferation of a new merkel carcinoma cell line. Am J Dermatopathol. 2002

Combined effect of aloe-emodin and chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferation of an adherent variant cell line of Merkel cell carcinoma. Oncol Rep. 2004

The antiproliferative activity of aloe-emodin is through p53-dependent and p21-dependent apoptotic pathway in human hepatoma cell lines. Life Sci. 2002

Anti-leukaemic and anti-mutagenic effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate isolated from Aloe vera Linne. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2000

• Miscellaneous mechanisms---antimetastatic, antileukemic, antimutagenic

In vitro chemopreventive effects of plant polysaccharides (Aloe barbadensis miller, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum and Coriolus versicolor). Carcinogenesis. 1999

Modulation of melanogenesis by aloesin: a competitive inhibitor of Tyrosinase. Pigment Cell Res. 2002

The therapeutic potential of Aloe Vera in tumor-bearing rats. Int J Tissue React. 1998

Antimetastatic properties of aloe juice. Vopr Onkol. 1986

Prevention of ultraviolet radiation-induced suppression of accessory cell function of Langerhans cells by Aloe vera gel components. Immunopharmacology. 1997

Genotoxicity of the laxative drug components emodin, aloe-emodin and danthron in mammalian cells: topoisomerase II mediated? Mutat Res. 1996

Aloe-emodin prevents cytokine-induced tumor cell death: the inhibition of auto-toxic nitric oxide release as a potential mechanism. Cell Mol Life
Sci. 2004

Identification of optimal molecular size of modified Aloe polysaccharides with maximum immunomodulatory activity. Int Immunopharacol. 2005

Heart Disease Preventive

• Antimicrobial/antiviral --- see detail above
• Anti-inflammatory --- see above
• Inhibits platelet adhesion

Possible interaction between sevoflurane and Aloe vera. Ann Phamacother. 2004

• Prevents atheromatous heart disease

Prevention of atheromatous heart disease. Angiology. 1985

• Controls blood lipids

Efficacy of dietary aloe vera supplementation on hepatic cholesterol and Oxidative status in aged rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol ( Tokyo) 2003

Diabetes Type-2 Preventive

• Variety of studies on effects on blood glucose levels and other antidiabetic activities

The antidiabetic activity of aloes: preliminary clinical and experimental observations. Horm Res. 1986

Effect of Aloe vera leaf gel and pulp extracts on the liver in type-II diabetic rat models. Bio Pharm Bull. 2004

Effect of Aloe vera leaves on blood glucose level in type-I and type-II diabetic rat models. Phytother Res. 2001

Hypoglycemic effect on Aloe vera gel on streptozoticin-induced diabetes in experimental rats. J Med Food. 2004

Effect of aloes on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan diabetic mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990

Systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements for glycemic control in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003

Susceptibility of hippocampus and cerebral cortex to oxidative damage in streptozotocin treated mice: prevention by extracts of Withania somnifer and Aloe vera. J Clin Neurosci. 2004

Effect of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. fil. Leaf gel and pulp extracts on kidney in type-II diabetic rat models. Indian J Exp Biol. 2004

Antihypertensive

Hypotensive effect of chemical constituents from Aloe barbadensis. Planta Med. 2001

Secondary Attributes

• Wound healing

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of a growth substance in Aloe vera. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 1994

The wound-healing effect of a glycoprotein fraction isolated from aloe vera. Br J Dermatol. 2001

Frostbite. Methods to minimize tissue loss. Postgrad Med. 1990

Treatment of experimental frostbite with pentoxifylline and aloe vera cream. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995

Experimental and clinical observations on frostbite. Ann Emerg Med 1987

A Phase III study on the efficacy of topical aloe vera gel on irradiated breast tissue Cancer Nurs. 2002

Phase III double-blind evaluation of an aloe vera gel as a prophylactic agent for radiation-induced skin toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1996

Phase II double-blind randomized study comparing oral aloe vera versus placebo to prevent radiation-related mucositis in patients with head-and-neck neoplasms. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004

Aloe vera dermal wound gel is associated with a delay in wound healing. Obstet Gynecol. 1991

Effect of aloe vera gel to healing of burn wound a clinical and histologic study. J Med Assoc Thai. 1995

Aloe vera gel hindered wound healing of experimental second-degree burns: a quantitative controlled study. J Burn Care Rehabil. 1988

Comparative evaluation of aloe vera in the management of burn wounds in guinea pigs. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1988

The stimulation of postdermabrasion wound healing with stabilized aloe vera gel-polyethylene oxide dressing. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1990

Adverse reactions to vitamin E and aloe vera preparations after dermabrasion and chemical peel. Cutis. 1991

• Blood cell formation stimulation

Fractionation of Aloe vera L. inner gel, purification and molecular profiling of activity. Int Immunopharacol. 2004

• Cathartic properties

Studies of aloe. IV. Mechanism of cathartic effect. (3). Biol Pharm Bull.1994

A double blind trial of a celandin, aloe vera, and psyllium laxative preparation in adult patients with constipation. Digestion. 1991

Studies of Aloe. III Mechanism of cathartic effect. (2). Chem Pharm Bull. (Tokyo) 1990

• Analgesic

Initial characterization of the effects of Aloe vera at a crayfish neuromuscular junction. Phytother Res. 1999

• Treats autoimmune gastrointestinal disorders

Anti-inflammatory effects of aloe vera gel in human colorectal mucosa in Vitro. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004

Randomized double blind placebo controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004

The protective and healing effects of a natural antioxidant formulation based on ubiquinol and Aloe vera against dextran sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. Biofactors. 2003

The effect of Aloe vera A. Berger (Liliaceae) on gastric acid secretion and acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004

• Manages psoriasis/eczema

Management of psoriasis with Aloe vera extract in a hydro-philic cream: a placebo-controlled, double blind study. Trop Med Int Health. 1996

• Chemical & drug detoxifier of liver

Chemomodulatory action of Aloe vera on the profiles of enzymes associated with carcinogen metabolism and antioxidant status regulation in mice. Phytomedicine. 2000

The Agronomic Variances of Aloe Vera

Geographical variation in the major compounds of Aloe ferox leaf Exudates. Planta Med. 1995

The General history of Aloe Vera

The Aloe vera phenomenon: a review of the properties and modern uses of the leaf parenchyma gel. J. Ethnopharacol. 1986

Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness. Br J Gen Pract. 1999

Aloe vera leaf gel: a review update. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999

Anti-inflammatory constituents, aloesin and aloemannan in Aloe species and effects of tanshinon VI in Salvia miltiorrhiza on heart. Yakugaku Zasshi 2003