Aloe vera and wound healing: a brief review

Abstract Aloe vera possesses a great therapeutic importance in traditional medicine. It has attracted the attention of modern medical fields due to its wide pharmacological applications. The bioactive substances in Aloe vera proved to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Taken into our consideration the long history of clinical applications of Aloe vera in traditional medicine, especially for promoting the healing of cutaneous wounds with rare adverse effects, it provides a cheap alternative to many expensive synthetic drugs. Recent techniques in tissue engineering created novel scaffolds based on Aloe gel extracts for wound healing applications. Nonetheless, further guided researche is required to foster the development of Aloe vera based scaffolds for the benefit of worldwide populations. Here, I systemically summarize the main events following wounding and the mechanism of action of Aloe vera in promoting the healing process. I hope to provide a solid piece of information that might be helpful for designing new research studies into this topic.

Propriedades farmacológicas da Aloe vera (L. ) Burm. f / Pharmacological activities of Aloe vera (L. ) Burm. f

A Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. tem sido utilizada há milhares de anos na medicina tradicional para o tratamento de diversos males. O intuito desse trabalho foi o levantamento bibliográfico de artigos que evidenciassem a atividade farmacológica da Aloe vera. A revisão contemplou livros e periódicos nacionais e internacionais indexados nas bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS e SciElo, nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol, utilizando as palavras-chave citadas. Após o levantamento bibliográfico, constatou-se que várias atividades biológicas são atribuídas a Aloe vera. Evidências sugerem eficácia no tratamento da psoríase, herpes genital, queimaduras e hiperglicemia. Além disto, também foram demonstradas atividades antineoplásica, antimicrobiana, anti-inflamatória e imunomodulatória por estudos in vitro e in vivo, entretanto, na cicatrização de feridas, os resultados foram conflitantes. No tratamento de dermatite por radiação e em queimaduras solares sua eficácia não foi comprovada e foram relatados casos de hepatite aguda devido ao consumo de preparações orais. Tendo em vista as várias atividades comprovadas e poucos relatos acerca de sua contra indicação, conclui-se que o uso desta espécie corrobora o vasto uso popular.

The Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The aim of this study was to carry out a bibliographical review on the pharmacological activity of Aloe vera. This review included books and national and international journals indexed to MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, using the key words mentioned. After the literature review, we found that several biological activities have been attributed to Aloe vera. Evidence suggests efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis, genital herpes, burns and hyperglycemia. Moreover, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities have also been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies; however, in wound healing, the results were conflicting. In the treatment of radiation dermatitis and sunburn, its efficacy has not been proven, and cases of acute hepatitis from the consumption of oral preparations have been reported. Considering the various proven activities and the few reports about the contraindications of Aloe vera, we conclude that the use of this species confirms its wide popular usage.

possible protective role of aloe vera extracts in pancreatic beta-cells of experimentally induced diabetic rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the world is of great concern. As synthetic drugs have undesirable side effects or contraindications, traditional medicinal plants are being used for treatments of diabetes. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of aloe vera [AV] on beta cells of diabetic rats. Forty adult male rats were utilized and divided equally into four groups. The first served as the control group; the second was the streptozotocin [STZ] group [single intraperitoneal dose of 65 mg/kg body weight]; the third was the preventive AV group, which was given a daily oral dose of AV [300 mg/kg body weight/day] for 14 days along with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ given after 7 days from the start of AV; the fourth group was the curative AV group, which was given a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ and after 7 days were given a daily oral dose of AV for 14 days. Pancreatic tail samples were taken 14 days after the treatment with AV. Paraffin sections were prepared for histological and immunohistochemical studies. The results revealed that a single dose of STZ induced marked cytoplasmic vacuolations and pyknotic nuclei in many islet cells. The AV preventive group showed normal-appearing islet cells. The AV curative group showed cytoplasmic vacuolations and pyknotic nuclei in many islet cells. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease [P<0.05] in anti-insulin antibody reaction and bcl2 expression in the diabetic group and the AV curative group compared with the control group, whereas there was an insignificant increase in the preventive group. The present study suggests that AV when used as a preventive agent can protect against STZ-induced diabetes in rats. Therefore, AV should be given to prediabetic patients and to individuals at high risk for diabetes

Utilização da babosa no cotidiano de usuários portadores de câncer / Use of aloe in the daily life of patients with cancer / Utilización de la aloe en el cotidiano de pacientes portadores de cáncer

O estudo teve como objetivo investigar a utilização da Aloe spp. pelos usuários portadores de câncer, no tratamento da doença. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório, realizado em um município do Sul do Rio Grande do Sul com onze usuários portadores de câncer internados no Programa de Internação Domiciliar Interdisciplinar (PIDI)Oncológico. Destes, nove sabiam sobre a possibilidade de utilização da Aloe spp. para o câncer e apenas três referiram sua utilização para auxiliar no tratamento. A Aloe spp. foi utilizada pelos usuários, visando auxiliar no tratamento do câncer, sem abandonar o tratamento convencional. Concluiu-se que, apesar de os entrevistados terem relatado o uso da babosa, não se encontraram estudos que confirmassem suas propriedades anticancerígenas.

The objective of this study is to investigate the use of Aloe spp. by users with cancer,in the treatment of the disease. This is a descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study carried out in a municipality of Rio Grande do Sul with 11 users with cancer interned interned at the Oncological Interdisciplinary Home Care Program (IHCP). Nine out of the eleven patients had heard of the possibility of using Aloe spp. for cancer treatment and the remaining three reported having used it as a support in the treatment. Aloe spp. was used by the patients as an auxiliary a cancer treatment, without abandoning the conventional one. It was concluded that inspite of the fact that the interviewees reported having used of Aloe, no studies were found to confirm its anti-cancer properties.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar el uso de la Aloe spp., por pacientes portadores de cáncer, en el tratamiento de la enfermedad. Se trata de un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo y exploratorio, realizado en un municipio, del Sur del Rio Grande do Sul, con once pacientes portadores de cáncer internados en el Programa de Internación Domiciliario Interdisciplinario (PIDI)Oncológico. De estos, nueve sabían sobre la posibilidad de la utilización del Aloe spp. para el cáncer y solo tres refirieron su uso como auxiliar en el tratamiento. El Aloe spp. fue utilizado por los pacientes, con la finalidad de auxiliar en el tratamiento del cáncer, sin abandonar el tratamiento convencional. Se concluye que, a pesar de que los encuestados hayan relatado sobre el uso del Aloe, no se encontraron estudios que confirmasen sus propiedades anticancerígenas.

Aloe-induced Toxic Hepatitis

Aloe has been widely used in phytomedicine. Phytomedicine describes aloe as a herb which has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-aging effects. In recent years several cases of aloe-induced hepatotoxicity were reported. But its pharmacokinetics and toxicity are poorly described in the literature. Here we report three cases with aloe-induced toxic hepatitis. A 57-yr-old woman, a 62-yr-old woman and a 55-yr-old woman were admitted to the hospital for acute hepatitis. They had taken aloe preparation for months. Their clinical manifestation, laboratory findings and histologic findings met diagnostic criteria (RUCAM scale) of toxic hepatitis. Upon discontinuation of the oral aloe preparations, liver enzymes returned to normal level. Aloe should be considered as a causative agent in hepatotoxicity.

Determinación de microelementos en acíbar de hojas de zábila (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.) / Determination of microelements in exudate from leaves of zábila (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.)

En esta investigacion se estudio la concentracion de microelementos tales como cobre, zinc, manganeso y hierro en el acibar de hojas de zabila, por espectrometria de absorcion atomica en llama (FAAS); asimismo, la concentracion de cromo por espectrometria de absorcion atomica electrotermica (ETAAS). Las plantas fueron cultivadas en la ciudad de Coro, estado Falcon, Venezuela. Las muestras de aci bar se recolectaron en hojas internas, medias y externas de la planta. Luego, se secaron por liofilizacion y se mineralizaron: 0,25 g de muestra de acibar se sometio a digestion humeda por 1 hora a 70 oC en una plancha de calentamiento, con 1:2 HNO3 y H2O2. No se encontro efecto de matriz, ya que no hubo diferencia estadisticamente significativa entre la pendiente de la curva de calibracion acuosa y la obtenida por adicion de estandar. El estudio de recuperacion fue satisfactorio, siendo el valor promedio 97,02 ± 4,65%. La exactitud del metodo se evaluo utilizando material certificado de la National Bureau of Standards (NBS) 1572, no encontrandose diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre los valores de los metales contenidos en el material de referencia con los valores obtenidos con el metodo aplicado en esta investigacion. Con relacion a la precision, el promedio de la desviacion estandar relativa fue de 1,26%, lo que certifica la precision del metodo empleado. Las concentraciones de metales (media poblacional ± intervalos de confianza) encontradas fueron las siguientes: Cu: 1.604 ± 0.296 mg/g, zn: 6.381 ± 0.974 mg/g, Fe: 14.609 ±3.161 mg/g, Mn: 5.058 ± 0.307 mg/g y Cr: 13.174 ± 3.046 mg/g. El metodo empleado fue exacto, preciso y libre de interferencias.

In this investigation was studied the concentration of microelements such as: Cu, zn, Fe and Mn in Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. leaves exudates by atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), also the Cr concentration was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The plants were cultivated in Coro city, Falcon state, Venezuela. The exudates samples were recollected from internal external and intermediate leaves of the plant. It was digested for 1 hour in a hot plate at 70 oC 0.25g of lyophilized exudates with 1:2 nitric acidic and hydrogen peroxide. It was no found significatives statistics difference at 95% of confidence between the standard calibration curve and the aqueous calibration curve, so no matrix effect was observed. The recovery studies was satisfactory, the mean value was 97.02 ± 4.65%. It was no found significatives statistics differences at 95% of confidence between the certificated values from The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) 1572 of studied metals and the values found with the applied methodology, so the method applied was accurate. The precision of the method was 1.26%. The concentrations of these elements in the real samples were: Cu: 1,604 ± 0,296 mg/g; zn: 6,381 ± 0,974 mg/g; Fe: 14,609 ± 3,161 mg/g; Mn: 5,058 ± 0,307 mg/g and Cr: 13,174 ± 3,046 mg/g. The method used to determine these elements was exact, precise and free from interferences.

Eficacia de la crema de aloe al 25 por ciento en la estomatitis subprotésica grado II / Efficacy of 25 por ciento aloe cream in treating second degree denture stomatitis

Se realizó un ensayo clínico terapéutico (fase II, aleatorio, en la consulta de prótesis dental del Hospital Militar Docente Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany, con el objetivo de evaluar la eficacia de la terapia antiinflamatoria con crema de aloe al 25 por ciento sobre la mucosa afectada por estomatitis subprótesis grado II en pacientes portadores de prótesis con bases acrílicas tanto totales como parciales. El universo estuvo constituido por 120 pacientes que acudieron a nuestro servicio en el período de septiembre del 2005 a octubre del 2006. Se establecieron 2 grupos: uno de estudio y otro de control, con 60 integrantes cada uno. Al primer grupo se le aplicó la crema de aloe al 25 por ciento hasta su curación, al segundo grupo se le indicó tratamiento convencional. En ambos se le retiraron los aparatos protésicos y se evaluaron a partir del tercer día hasta su curación. Se comprobó que la curación de la lesión se producía aproximadamente en 7 días en el grupo estudio, no así en el grupo control, donde los pacientes requirieron de un tiempo mayor para la desaparición de estos síntomas, lo que demuestra que el tratamiento con la crema de aloe al 25 por ciento en la estomatitis subprótesis es eficaz , por lo cual recomendamos su uso a largo plazo(AU)

A phase II, randomized therapeutical clinical assay was carried out in the denture service of Dr Joaquín Castillo Duany teaching military hospital to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory 25 por ciento aloe cream therapy on the mucosa affected by second degree denture stomatitis in denture wearers having total or partial acrylic supports. The universe of study was made up of 120 patients who went to this Service from September 2005 to October 2006. Two groups were formed: a study group and a control group with 60 cases each. 25 por ciento aloe cream was administered to the first group till total remission whereas the second group received the standard treatment. Dentures were removed in both groups. The patients were assessed as of the third day until final curing. It was observed that lesion dissapeared after 7 days of treatment approximately in the study group; however, the cases in the control group required a longer period of time to eliminate the symptoms. This proved that 25 por ciento aloe cream treatment was effective for denture stomatitis, and therefore a long-term application of this therapy was recommended(AU)

Influência do aloe vera e própolis na contração de feridas em dorso de ratos / The Influenceaf Aloe vera and propolis in the contraction of wounds on dorsal area of rats

Os produtos naturais Aloe vera e própolis vêm se destacando na indústria farmacêutica. Para uma melhor compreensão desses agentes, o estudo objetivou comparar clinicamentea influência do Aloe vera in naturae um extrato hidroalcoólicode própolis na contração de feridas cutâneas em dorso de ratas. Depois de anestesiados os animais, produziu-se uma ferida com área de 1cm2 no dorso de cada um deles até atingiro tecido subcutâneo, preservando-se o tecido muscular. Imediatamenteapós a cirurgia, iniciaram-se as aplicações dos agentes cinco vezes por semana, uma vez ao dia, no mesmo horáriodurante toda a fase experimental. As mensurações das áreasdas feridas foram realizadas nos períodos de 1,3,7, 12 e 15dias, através de um paquímetro digital. Após obter-se o valor das áreas, foi avaliada a contração das feridas através da seguinte fórmula: (área inicial - área do dia da medida) / área inicial x 100 = percentual de contração no dia da medida. Efetuaram-se as médias dos grupos em cada tempo experimentale comparam-nas (Anova e corretivo Bonferroni). Os resultados evidenciaram que nos dias 3 e J2 as contrações daslesões no grupo Aloe vera e própolis foram maiores, se comparado-as ao grupo teste (p<0,05). No tempo experimental de 1, 7 e 15 dias, não houve diferença estatística (p>0,05) entre os grupos. Diante de tais resultados, observou-se que clinicamente, em dorso de ratos, Aloe vera in naturae própolis foram auxiliaresem um reparo mais rápido da lesão.

Hypolipidimic effect of some medicinal plants on diabetic rats

Our aim was to evaluate the hypolipidimic effect of aqueous extract of a famous mixture used in Saudi Arabia folk medicine that consists of Nigella sativa, Commiphora myrrha, Boswellia carterii Birdw, Ferule assa-foetida and Aloe vera and also the extract of each plant alone on alloxan induced diabetic rats. The present study was carried out on 80 adult male albino rats [120 +/- 20 g.b.wt.], the rats were divided randomly into 8 groups, the first group served as control group, the second group as alloxan induced diabetic rats, the third group was diabetic rats treated with mixture of folk medicinal plant [0.01g /100 g b. wt.] ,the fourth group: diabetic rats treated with Nigella sativa [0.01g /100 g b. wt.], the fifth group: diabetic rats treated with Aloe vera [0.005g /100 g b. wt.], the sixth group: diabetic rats treated with Ferule assa-foetida [0.01 g /100 g b. wt.], the seventh: diabetic rats treated with Boswellia carterii Birdw [1ml/100 g b. wt.] and the eighth group: diabetic rats treated with Commiphora myrrha [0.01 g ml/100 g b. wt.]. Serum total lipid, serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride recorded significant increases in diabetic, Nigella sativa, Commiphora myrrha, Boswellia carterii birdw and Aloe vera treated group. While the mixture and Ferule assa-foetida treated group, showed insignificant changes in serum total lipid, triglyceride, serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. On other hand, the mixture treated group and Ferule assa-foetida treated group showed significant decreased in the previous parameters. The serum HDL cholesterol was significantly reduced in diabetic group throughout the experimental periods, otherwise, all treated group revealed insignificant changes till the end of experiment when compare with undiabetic rats. The aqueous extract of a mixture consists of Nigella sativa, Commiphora myrrha, Boswellia carterii Birdw, Ferule assa-foetida and Aloe vera are useful for improvement of the lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic rats from each plant alone