Aqueous Extract Of Aloe Vera Research Articles

Augmented humoral immune response and decreased cell-mediated immunity by Aloe vera in rats

The present study was performed to explore the effect of aqueous extract of Aloe vera on parameters of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Delayed-type hypersensitivity was assessed by measuring foot pad thickness following sensitisation by keyhole limpet haemocyanin injection and subsequently challenged by the same. Humoral immunity was assessed by measurement of haemagglutination titre to sheep red blood cells. Aloe vera (400mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant decrease in foot pad thickness compared with the control group, and also significantly enhanced the secondary humoral immune response. Thus, these findings suggest that A. vera can modulate immune response by augmenting secondary humoral immunity and decreasing cell-mediated immunity.

In vitro anti inflammatory activity of Aloe vera by down regulation of MMP-9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Aim of the studyThe anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera was investigated through MMP inhibition studies. The effect of Aloe vera on MMP-9 inhibition was tested on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Materials and methodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the heparinised venous blood by Ficoll Diatrizoate gradient centrifugation. The cell count and viability was determined using dye exclusion technique. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Activation of MMP-9 was visualized by gelatin zymography. Inhibition of MMP-9 in the presence of aqueous extract of Aloe vera was detected by gelatin zymography and confirmed by RT-PCR. ResultsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) showed significant inhibition in the activity of MMP-9, indicating the in vitro inhibitory effect of Aloe vera on MMP-9. Zymographic analysis and RT-PCR showed that it caused a significant reduction in the production of MMP-9 in a concentration dependent manner. ConclusionThe inhibition of MMP-9 production in the cells was detected by gelatin zymography and was confirmed by RT-PCR.

Hepatotherapeutic Effect of Aloe Vera in Alcohol-induced Hepatic Damage

There is a lack of reliable hepatotherapeutic drugs in modern medicine in the management of alcohol/drug-induced liver damage. Aloe vera extract has been used in folklore medicine for its medicinal values. This study evaluates the hepatotherapeutic activity of aqueous extract of Aloe vera gel in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups; the negative control, positive control and the extract-treated groups. The negative control received only distilled water daily. The positive control received alcohol, while the extract-treated group received aqueous extract of Aloe vera and alcohol. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the positive control and extract-treated rats with alcohol. The hepatotherapeutic effect was evaluated by performing an assay of the serum total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine transaminases and liver histopathology. Alanine transaminase activities were comparable in all groups. Alcohol treatment alone significantly (p < 0.05) increased total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase activities. Alcohol-induced hepatic dysfunction was abrogated by Aloe vera extract. Histopathological examination revealed that alcohol induced hepatic damage. Aloe vera treatment maintained hepatic architecture similar to that seen in the control. This study shows that aqueous extract of Aloe vera gel is hepatotherapeutic and thus lends credence to the use of the plant in folklore medicine in the management of alcohol-induced hepatic dysfunction.

Effect of an extract of Aloe vera on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats

Aloe vera is a tropical plant popularly known in Brazil as babosa. We have investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Aloe vera on the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 and laboratorial parameters in Wistar rats. Twelve animals were divided into treated and control groups. In the treated group, Aloe vera was given by gavage (5mg/mL/day) during 10 days. The control group received sorbitol by the same way and period. One hour after the last dose, we injected 0.1mL of Na99mTcO4 by orbital plexus. After 60 min, all the animals were killed. Samples were harvested from the brain, liver, heart, muscle, pancreas, stomach, femur, kidneys, blood, testis and thyroid and the percentage of radioactivity (%ATI/g) was determined. Biochemical dosages were performed. There was a significant increase of %ATI/g in blood, femur, kidneys, liver, stomach, testis and thyroid and also in blood levels of AST and ALT. A significant decrease in levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and urea occurred. The statistical analyses were performed by Mann-Whitney test and T-Student test (p<0.05). The aqueous extract of Aloe vera facilitated the uptake of Na99mTcO4 in organs of rats and it was responsible to a high increase of levels of AST and ALT.

Consumption of aqueous extract of raw &lt;i&gt;Aloe Vera&lt;/i&gt; leaves: histopathological and biochemical studies in rat and tilapia

Forty-five juvenile tilapia and 30 weanling albino rats exposed to water containing 50, 100 and 150ppm of aqueous extract of Aloe Vera leaves for 96 hours and 28 days, respectively were used for this study. Fifteen tilapia and 10 rats exposed to clean water (0 ppm A. vera) served as controls. Clinical signs, mortality, gross and histologic organ pathology in the tilapia; weekly haematology, plasma biochemical parameters and organ pathology were monitored in the rats. Fish cultured in water containing A. vera exhibited erratic swimming patterns, rapid opercular movements, skin depigmentation and died within 24-96 hours. Gross and histologic tissue lesions in the test fish include skin depigmentation, pale and shriveled gills, dull, opaque and sunken eyes, stunting and clubbing of gill filaments, vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of gill epithelial cells, hyaline degeneration and necrosis of myofibrils, calcification of vasa vasori, hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration and necrosis. Haematologic and plasma biochemical changes in test rats include moderate to severe normocytic normochromic anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, increased AST levels, and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Gross and histologic tissue lesions include mild to moderate pulmonary congestion, flabbiness of the heart, hepatomegaly, mottling of kidneys, vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, periportal fibrosis, glomerular and tubular degeneration and necrosis, matting and clubbing of small intestinal villi, catarrhal enteritis and goblet cell hyperplasia. The severity of these changes increased with increasing concentrations of A. vera. No mortality, gross or histologic changes were observed in both control fish and rats. Results from this study show that consumption of water containing extracts of raw A. vera is very toxic to fish and rats. The serious health implication for human consumption of raw A. vera is discussed. Keywords: aloe vera, tilapia, rats, alternate medicine, human health implications African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(3) 2005: 169-178