Aloe vera mucilage loaded gelatin electrospun fibers contained in polylactic acid coaxial system and polylactic acid and poly(e-caprolactone) tri-layer membranes for tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND: Polymeric electrospun mats have been used as scaffolds in tissue engineering for the development of novel materials due to its characteristics. The usage of synthetic materials has gone in decline due to environmental problems associated with their synthesis and waste disposal. Biomaterials such as biopolymers have been used recently due to good compatibility on biological applications and sustainability. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to obtain novel materials based on synthetic and natural polymers for applications on tissue engineering. METHODS: Aloe vera mucilage was obtained, chemically characterized, and used as an active compound contained in electrospun mats. Polymeric scaffolds were obtained in single, coaxial and tri-layer structures, characterized and evaluated in cell culture. RESULTS: Mucilage loaded electrospun fibers showed good compatibility due to formation of hydrogen bonds between polymers and biomolecules from its structure, evidenced by FTIR spectra and thermal properties. Cell viability test showed that most of the obtained mats result on viability higher than 75%, resulting in nontoxic materials, ready to be used on scaffolding applications. CONCLUSION: Mucilage containing fibers resulted on materials with potential use on scaffolding applications due to their mechanical performance and cell viability results.

In vivo and in vitro efficacy of the ithmid kohl/zinc-oxide nanoparticles, ithmid kohl/Aloe vera, and zinc-oxide nanoparticles/Aloe vera for the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the ithmid kohl/zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), ithmid kohl/Aloe vera, and ZnONPs/Aloe vera in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. The endophthalmitis model was prepared by contaminating both eyes of 24 healthy adult male albino rabbits with a clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The animals were randomly divided into eight groups (A-H) according to the treatment. Group A received 1 ml of ithmid kohl/ZnONPs ointment, group B received 1 ml of ithmid kohl/Aloe vera gel ointment, group C received 1 ml of ZnONPs/Aloe vera gel ointment, and groups D, E, and F were treated with 1 ml of ithmid kohl solution (0.5 g/ml in distilled water), 1 ml of ZnONPs (0.5 g/ml) colloidal dispersion, and 1 ml of Aloe vera gel, respectively. Group G received 100 µl of a tetracycline antibiotic solution (final concentration: 16 µg/ml), and group H received sterile distilled water (no treatment). In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against K. pneumoniae using the agar well diffusion. The combination of ithmid kohl/ZnONPs was the most effective formulation for treating endophthalmitis model in infected rabbits within 2 days. In vitro antibacterial assay confirmed the potential of the ithmid kohl/ZnONPs formulation, which had the largest zone of inhibition (31 mm) among the compounds tested. The preparation of the ithmid kohl/ZnONPs formulation and its in vivo experiment in albino rabbits for the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis was an innovative approach that has shown promise and may potentially serve as a viable alternative in clinical practice.

GC/MS evaluation of the composition of the Aloe vera gel and extract.

This study aimed to investigate the potential use of Aloe vera (AV) as a food additive given its critical importance in food safety and health. Specifically, the natural antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of AV were examined to prevent food spoilage and extend its shelf life. This study was conducted using commercially available aloe vera gel (AVG) and aloe vera extract (AVE). These samples were tested using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis involves identifying and quantifying the components using natural helium gas. The antimicrobial and antifungal effects of these components were evaluated and compared with those reported in the literature. GC-MS analysis revealed that the Aloe vera gel and extract contained various volatile components, including phenolic compounds, anthraquinone glycosides, and different esters. According to GC-MS results of the two different forms of AV, the main volatile compounds of the gel form were levoglucosan, tridecanoic acid, decanoic acid methyl ester, octadecanoic acid methyl ester, octadecanoic acid, nonadeca-1.18-diyn-4.16-diol and squalene, whereas the extract form contained volatile compounds with antifungal activity such as tridecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid methyl ester, octadecanoic acid, nonanoic acid and eicosyl acetate. Both samples exhibited antimicrobial and antifungal activities, especially against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Escherichia coli. This study demonstrated the potential of Aloe vera gel and extract as a natural preservative for use in food because of its constituent components. This study highlights the potential use of Aloe vera as a natural additive in the food industry. Due to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, Aloe vera offers an organic alternative to chemical additives. Aloe vera is effective at preventing food spoilage and extending shelf life, making it a suitable option for meeting consumer demand for organic and natural products.

Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles as an Effective Tool to Combat Soil Metal Stresses in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Nanotechnology has demonstrated significant potential to improve agricultural production and increase crop tolerance to abiotic stress including exposure to heavy metals. The present study investigated the mechanisms by which aloe vera extract gel-biosynthesized (AVGE) selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) alleviated cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity to rice (Oryza sativa L.). AVGE Se NPs, chemically synthesized bare Se NPs, and NaSeO3 as an ionic control were applied to Cd-stressed rice seedlings via root exposure in both hydroponic and soil systems. Upon exposure to AVGE Se NPs at 15 mg Se/L, the fresh root biomass was significantly increased by 100.7% and 19.5% as compared to Cd control and conventional bare Se NPs. Transcriptional analyses highlighted that AVGE Se NPs activated stress signaling and defense related pathways, including glutathione metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction. Specifically, exposure to AVGE Se NPs upregulated the expression of genes associated with the gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis by and 4.79- and 3.29-fold as compared to the Cd-alone treatment and the untreated control, respectively. Importantly, AVGE Se NPs restored the composition of the endophyte community and recruit of beneficial species under Cd exposure; the relative abundance of Azospirillum was significantly increased in roots, shoots, and the rhizosphere soil by 0.73-, 4.58- and 0.37-fold, respectively, relative to the Cd-alone treatment. Collectively, these findings highlight the significant potential of AVGE Se NPs to enhance plant growth and to minimize the Cd-induced toxicity in rice and provide a promising nanoenabled strategy to enhance food safety upon crop cultivation in contaminated agricultural soils.

Aloe vera supplementation improves cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: This study assessed the effects of Aloe vera supplementation on serum inflammatory factors, blood sugar and lipid profiles in hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: Totally, 50 hemodialysis patients were allocated randomly to either Aloe vera or placebo groups. The Aloe vera group received 2 Aloe vera capsules daily for 8 weeks (500 mg/day). Serum C-reactive protein (hs- CRP), Fasting blood glucose (FBS), and lipid profiles levels were evaluated at the baseline and the end of the eighth week. Results: Aloe vera supplementation for 8 weeks was associated with a significant reduction of serum hs- CRP (p=0.004), total cholesterol (p=0.01), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (p=0.02) leves and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.002) concentration in the hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: Aloe vera supplementation is beneficial in improvement of cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients.

Therapeutic effect of NEO400, perillyl alcohol conjugated to linoleic acid, in a mouse model of UV-induced skin damage.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes harmful effects on human skin. Pre-exposure application of sunscreen can be protective, but not after damage already has occurred. There is a need for agents that can be applied post-UVR exposure to repair the damage. We investigated a novel compound, NEO400, that appears to meet this medicinal need. NEO400 was created by conjugating linoleic acid to perillyl alcohol. UVR was repeatedly administered to the skin of mice over several weeks, where it caused the typical signs of UV damage, including scaling of the skin, DNA damage, and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. However, when NEO400 was applied immediately post-UVR, it triggered the appearance of markers for dermal stem cell proliferation, and no signs of skin damage emerged. Furthermore, when NEO400 was applied to skin that already had incurred significant damage, it accelerated skin healing. When applied individually, linoleic acid and perillyl alcohol were ineffective, indicating that they had to be conjugated in order to exert therapeutic efficacy. None of these skin-protective effects could be achieved with Aloe vera gel, a popular and widely used post-exposure remedy. Our study suggests that NEO400 holds potential as a regenerative treatment for excessively UVR-exposed skin.

Unveiling green corrosion inhibitor of Aloe vera extracts for API 5L steel in seawater environment.

This study evaluated Aloe vera extract as a green inhibitor to prevent corrosion in seawater environments. A. vera extract was produced by maceration with methanol-water at room temperature. Electrochemical techniques were used to evaluate the corrosion inhibitor effectiveness of the A. vera extract. The morphology of the corrosion products was analyzed by FE-SEM equipped with EDS and AFM. FT-IR and LCMS characterized the functional and structural groups in this extract. The electrochemical measurements show that A. vera extract could effectively reduce the corrosion of API 5L steel in seawater environments. Inhibition efficiency (IE) increases with increasing concentration. Optimal corrosion inhibition efficiency of around 83.75% (PDP) and 88.60% (EIS) was obtained by adding 300 mg L-1 of extract at 310 K. Furthermore, the higher the concentration of A. vera extract, the greater the activation energy (Ea), with the highest activation energy being 48.24 kJ mol-1 for the concentration of 300 mg L-1. Conversely, increasing the temperature and exposure duration reduces the corrosion inhibition efficiency (IE) values; the best exposure period was 30 min with 88.34% IE by a concentration of 300 mg L-1 at 300 K. This corrosion inhibition is achieved by the adsorption process of A. vera bioactive on metal surfaces with a mixed inhibitor through a physisorption-chemisorption mechanism. This finding was confirmed by the smoother surface morphology of the steel treated with A. vera extract than without. This unveiling investigation found that A. vera extract has the potential to be an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor in the seawater environment.

Protective Effect of Aloe vera (L.) on Diabetes-Induced Oxidative Stress Linked Spermiological Co-Morbidity in Human and Rat: An In-Vitro Analysis.

Diabetes linked reproductive complications are rising problems nowadays. The study focused on the protective efficacy of Aloe vera (L.) on sperm cell damage in an oxidative stress milieu encumbered by a chronic diabetes in human and streptozotocin treated Wistar rat (Rattus norvegicus). Spermatozoa from rat's epididymal washing, and human semen after 3-4 days of abstinence of mating or masturbation were collected from control and diabetes groups. Spermatozoa of human and rat were incubated for 1 or 2 h at 370C in an in-vitro medium separately and considered as normo-glycemic control and diabetes sub-groups. Dose of 1 or, 2 or, 4 mg/ml of Aloe vera (L.) hydro-ethanolic (40:60) extract (AVHE) was given to diabetes samples, considered as sub-sub-group for assessing its protective effect on spermiological and oxidative stress parameters. The motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, nuclear chromatin decondensation for DNA fragmentation, acrosome cap status, and antioxidative status of human and rat spermatozoa were decreased whereas spermatozoal apoptosis was elevated significantly (p < 0.05), noted by TUNEL assay in diabetes samples compared to the duration-matched control group. Exposure of AVHE to diabetes samples resulted significant rectification (p < 0.05) in the said parameters than the unexposed diabetes group. In control group, AVHE exposure has significant protective effect from spermiological deterioration compared to unexposed control group. Identification of major phytomolecules in AVHE was done by LC-MS study. Diabetes-induced oxidative stress-mediated spermatozoal injuries can be protected by AVHE extract, raise the possibility for potentiating sperm of human for increasing the success rate of in-vitro fertilization-blastocyst implantation.

A Randomized Single-Blinded Phase II Trial Comparing Efficacy and Quality of Life of Topical Aloe Vera Gel Plus Urea Cream Versus Urea Cream Alone for Prevention of Hand Foot Syndrome in Cancer Patients Receiving Capecitabine.

INTRODUCTION: Capecitabine has been widely prescribed to treat various cancers. The hand foot syndrome (HFS) is the most troublesome adverse effect. Urea cream has been pre-emptively co-prescribed, even though its efficacy is doubtful. Aloe vera gel with urea cream might potentiate each other. This trial was intended to prove the efficacy of this combination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators conducted a randomized single-blinded phase II study. The participants were randomized 1:1 to receive the combination of aloe vera gel and 10% urea cream (n = 30), the experimental A+U arm and 10% urea cream alone (n = 31), the U arm. The sample size was calculated to have 90% power to show the significant 20% reduction in the incidence of HFS grade 2-3 of the combination therapy with alpha level = 0.05. Both the CTCAE criteria version 5 and the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were assessed to determine the severity of HFS and quality of life, respectively. RESULTS: Most of the participants had rectal cancer (A+U: 43.3%; U: 41.9%). In the A+U group, 86.7% had grade 0-1 HFS and 13.3% had grade 2-3 HFS. In the U group, 64.5% had grade 0-1 HFS and 35.5% had grade 2-3 HFS (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.045). Grade 2-3 HFS was significantly lower in the combination group. CONCLUSION: Combination of aloe vera gel and 10% urea cream ameliorated the severity of HFS in participants taking capecitabine; however, no significant difference in DLQI between the groups was demonstrated.

Rational Design and Testing of Antibacterial Aloe Vera Hemostatic Hydrogel.

Bleeding resulting from surgical procedures or trauma, including gunshot wounds, represents a life-threatening health issue. Therefore, the development of safe, effective, and convenient hemostatic agents is critical in securing the "golden time" to save patients' lives. Plant-derived compounds and plant extracts have been regarded as promising sources of hemostatic agents in previous studies, regulating hemostatic function with low toxicity and minimal side effects within the human body. Aloe vera-based hydrogels, which are characterized by flexible strength and high functionality, have emerged as a promising platform for wound applications due to their unique biocompatibility features. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the utilization of thickening agents and natural agents such as xanthan gum, carrageenan, Carbomer, and alginate in applying aloe vera-based hydrogels as a hemostatic. Furthermore, it also tests the use of aloe vera-based hydrogels for therapeutic delivery at wound sites through the incorporation of various antimicrobial agents to extend the utility of the hydrogels beyond hemostasis. Our novel applied research utilizes aloe vera-based hydrogel as an antimicrobial hemostatic agent, providing valuable insights for a wide range of applications and highlighting its potential to enhance hemorrhage control in various emergency scenarios.

Use of Aloe Vera Gel as Media to Assess Antimicrobial Activity and Development of Antimicrobial Nanocomposites.

Antimicrobial resistance is a menace to public health on a global scale. In this regard, nanomaterials exhibiting antimicrobial properties represent a promising solution. Both metal and metal oxide nanomaterials are suitable candidates, even though their mechanisms of action vary. Multiple antimicrobial mechanisms can occur simultaneously or independently; this includes either direct contact with the pathogens, nanomaterial uptake, oxidative stress, ion release, or any of their combinations. However, due to their specific properties and more particularly fast settling, existing methods to study the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles have not been specifically adapted in some cases. The development of methodologies that can assess the antimicrobial properties of metallic nanomaterials accurately is necessary. A cost-effective methodology with a straightforward set-up that enables the easy and quick assessment of the antimicrobial properties of metal nanoparticles with high accuracy has been developed. The methodology is also capable of confirming whether the killing mechanism involves ionic diffusion. Finally, Aloe Vera gel showed good properties for use as a medium for the development of antimicrobial ointment.

Mini-encyclopedia of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals protecting health in primary and secondary care-clinically relevant 3PM innovation.

Despite their subordination in humans, to a great extent, mitochondria maintain their independent status but tightly cooperate with the "host" on protecting the joint life quality and minimizing health risks. Under oxidative stress conditions, healthy mitochondria promptly increase mitophagy level to remove damaged "fellows" rejuvenating the mitochondrial population and sending fragments of mtDNA as SOS signals to all systems in the human body. As long as metabolic pathways are under systemic control and well-concerted together, adaptive mechanisms become triggered increasing systemic protection, activating antioxidant defense and repair machinery. Contextually, all attributes of mitochondrial patho-/physiology are instrumental for predictive medical approach and cost-effective treatments tailored to individualized patient profiles in primary (to protect vulnerable individuals again the health-to-disease transition) and secondary (to protect affected individuals again disease progression) care. Nutraceuticals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds demonstrating health-promoting, illness-preventing, and other health-related benefits. Keeping in mind health-promoting properties of nutraceuticals along with their great therapeutic potential and safety profile, there is a permanently growing demand on the application of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals. Application of nutraceuticals is beneficial only if meeting needs at individual level. Therefore, health risk assessment and creation of individualized patient profiles are of pivotal importance followed by adapted nutraceutical sets meeting individual needs. Based on the scientific evidence available for mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals, this article presents examples of frequent medical conditions, which require protective measures targeted on mitochondria as a holistic approach following advanced concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) in primary and secondary care.

Antimicrobial Properties of Aloe vera Ethanol Extract as a Denture Disinfectant: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of an ethanolic extract of Aloe vera on Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Materials and methods A total of 42 heat-cured acrylic resin specimens were made and divided into three groups according to the disinfection method: (1) Corega disinfectant tablets; (2) ethanol extract of Aloe vera; and (3) distilled water (as a control group). Fresh Aloe vera whole leaves were washed with distilled water, chopped into small pieces, air-dried, and ground into powder. The powder was extracted with 95% ethanol. The acrylic specimens were contaminated with C. albicans and S. aureus, and then the specimens were immersed in study solutions for three minutes. The viable colonies were counted using the colony-forming units (CFU) method. Results The results showed a decrease in the number of C. albicans CFU for denture tablets and Aloe vera ethanoic extract groups compared to the negative control group. There were no significant statistical differences between the denture tablet group and the Aloe vera ethanolic extract group (P < 0.05). Aloe vera ethanolic extract groups significantly decreased the number of S. aureus CFU compared to the negative control group and less compared to the denture tablet, where significant statistical differences were found between the tablet group and the Aloe vera ethanolic extract group. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that Aloe vera extract was effective against C. albicans and S. aureus when acrylic resin specimens were immersed for three minutes.

Evaluation of 90-day repeated dose oral toxicity of an aloe vera inner leaf gel beverage.

Despite its popularity along with many proposed therapeutic applications, the safety profile of Aloe vera gel beverages remains unsettled. The putative toxicology concern has focused on the hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives (HADs) found in the latex portion of the Aloe leaf. Despite harvesting and processing designed to eliminate or significantly reduce these compounds, certain HADs, such as aloin, may be present and have been associated with carcinogenicity in non-decolorized whole leaf extract containing approximately 6400 ppm aloin A and 71 ppm aloin-emodin. Sprague Dawley rats had free access to drinking water or a commercially and widely available Aloe vera gel beverage (Forever Living Products) prepared from the inner leaves of Aloe barbadensis Miller containing 3.43 ppm total aloin for 90 days. Under the conditions of the study and based on the toxicological endpoints evaluated, there were no adverse test substance-related findings, including altered thyroid hormones. No histologic differences or histopathological changes were detected in the multiple tissues and organs examined. The Ki-67 proliferation assay demonstrated no increased cell proliferation in the liver, lungs, kidneys, or urinary bladder, which might have been attributed to the dietary administration of the Aloe vera gel beverage via drinking water for 90 days. These data lend increasing confidence regarding the safety of appropriately processed Aloe vera gel beverages, such as the beverage tested in this study.

Efficacy of Locally Delivered Aloe Vera Hydrogel in Patients With Chronic Periodontitis: A Prospective Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Various herbal and natural products have been used for multiple purposes in medicine due to recent interest and advancements in the field of alternative medicine. For the past few millennia, aloe vera has been used as medicine. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties have been proven to reduce periodontal disease. AIM: In patients with generalised chronic periodontitis, this study examined the impact of aloe vera hydrogel in conjunction with scaling and root planing (SRP). METHODS: Sixty patients with generalised chronic periodontitis were enrolled in this study and split into two groups: Group 1 (control) - SRP alone (n=30) and Group 2 (test) - Aloe vera hydrogel with SRP (n=30). Clinical parameters related to periodontal disease, such as plaque index (PI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline and three months after the procedure, and the results were compared using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 23.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) software. A p-value of <0.05 indicated that the result was statistically significant. RESULTS: When comparing both groups' third-month periodontal clinical parameters to the baseline, there was a significant improvement (p<0.05). In the third month, the test group showed better improvement in PD and CAL than the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of SRP and aloe vera hydrogel greatly improved periodontal clinical parameters. However, studies with long-term follow-up assessing the efficacy of other modes of delivering aloe vera and also its effect on microbiological and immunological parameters are warranted in the future to substantiate these findings.

Investigating the effect of Aloe vera on the prevention and treatment of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head-and-neck cancer.

Background: Oral mucositis is one of the main complications of radiotherapy (RT) while treating head-and-neck cancers and can affect the patients' treatment process and life. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of Aloe vera on the prevention and treatment of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (RIOM) in patients with head-and-neck cancer. Materials and Methods: This was a double-blind clinical trial performed in 2019 on 75 patients with head-and-neck cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups receiving gargles of 5 cc Aloe vera and the same dose of placebo mouthwash three times a day, respectively. Then, the incidence and severity of RIOM were evaluated and compared between the two groups over 6 weeks of RT. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the severity of RIOM from the 1st to 3rd weeks of RT (P > 0.05). However, the severity of RIOM in the 4th, 5th, and 6th weeks of RT was significantly lower in the Aloe vera group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the long-term use of Aloe vera mouthwash can reduce the severity of RIOM.

Thymol, a Monoterpenoid within Polymeric Iodophor Formulations and Their Antimicrobial Activities.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an emanating threat to humanity's future. The effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics against microbial infections is declining at an alarming rate. As a result, morbidity and mortality rates are soaring, particularly among immunocompromised populations. Exploring alternative solutions, such as medicinal plants and iodine, shows promise in combating resistant pathogens. Such antimicrobials could effectively inhibit microbial proliferation through synergistic combinations. In our study, we prepared a formulation consisting of Aloe barbadensis Miller (AV), Thymol, iodine (I2), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Various analytical methods including SEM/EDS, UV-vis, Raman, FTIR, and XRD were carried out to verify the purity, composition, and morphology of AV-PVP-Thymol-I2. We evaluated the inhibitory effects of this formulation against 10 selected reference strains using impregnated sterile discs, surgical sutures, gauze bandages, surgical face masks, and KN95 masks. The antimicrobial properties of AV-PVP-Thymol-I2 were assessed through disc diffusion methods against 10 reference strains in comparison with two common antibiotics. The 25-month-old formulation exhibited slightly lower inhibitory zones, indicating changes in the sustained-iodine-release reservoir. Our findings confirm AV-PVP-Thymol-I2 as a potent antifungal and antibacterial agent against the reference strains, demonstrating particularly strong inhibitory action on surgical sutures, cotton bandages, and face masks. These results enable the potential use of the formulation AV-PVP-Thymol-I2 as a promising antimicrobial agent against wound infections and as a spray-on contact-killing agent.

A superabsorbent and pH-responsive copolymer-hydrogel based on acemannan from Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis M.): A smart material for drug delivery.

Combining natural polysaccharides with synthetic materials improves their functional properties which are essential for designing sustained-release drug delivery systems. In this context, the Aloe vera leaf mucilage/hydrogel (ALH) was reacted with acrylic acid (AA) to synthesize a copolymerized hydrogel, i.e., ALH-grafted-Polyacrylic acid (ALH-g-PAA) through free radical copolymerization. Concentrations of the crosslinker N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA), and the initiator potassium persulfate (KPS) were optimized to study their effects on ALH-g-PAA swelling. The FTIR and solid-state NMR (CP/MAS 13C NMR) spectra witnessed the formation of ALH-g-PAA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed superporous nature of ALH-g-PAA. The gel fraction (%) of ALH-g-PAA was directly related to the concentrations of AA and MBA whereas the sol fraction was inversely related to the concentrations of AA and MBA. The porosity (%) of ALH-g-PAA directly depends on the concentration of AA and MBA. The ALH-g-PAA swelled admirably at pH 7.4 and insignificantly at pH 1.2. The ALH-g-PAA offered on/off switching properties at pH 7.4/1.2. The metoprolol tartrate was loaded on different formulations of ALH-g-PAA. The ALH-g-PAA showed pH, time, and swelling-dependent release of metoprolol tartrate (MT) for 24 h following the first-order kinetic and Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Haemocompatibility studies ascertained the non-thrombogenic and non-hemolytic behavior of ALH-g-PAA.

Coordination of bioactive phytochemicals from Aloe vera extracts to metal ions; investigation of the metal complexes and bioactive compound formed.

The bioactive compounds contained within many plants account for their pharmacological values. Aloe vera has a wide range of organic and inorganic components, including carbohydrate polymers, glucomannans, and a variety of other natural and synthetic materials. The study aims to take a look into the characteristics of some metal complexes produced from Aloe vera extracts. The extracts from Aloe vera were derived by means of acetone, distilled water and ethanol. The solubility of the metal complexes with the ligand at varying temperatures was established. FT-IR was used to carry out the infra-red examination of the ligand. The results revealed that alcoholic extract of Aloe vera leaf was not soluble in Cu, Fe, or Zn but only soluble in Fe, the extract by distilled water was soluble in Cu, Fe and Zn. However, the Aloe vera in acetone as well as in the Zn (II) and Cu (II) composites displayed a bending that was found at 1430.97 cm-1, 1500.01 cm-1 and 1615.90 cm-1.every functional groups are assigned to be coordinating sites as a result of increase or decrease in the wave number, and absorption band. Findings from the investigation reveal that the complexion of the metal salts with diverse donor sites in the extract is indicated by an increase in the absorption peak of the functional groups in the metal composites of the extracts.

The Effects of Aloe Vera Cream on the Alar Scar in Rhinoplasty, A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Many studies have been done on the use of aloe vera in wound healing, but fewer studies were done on the influence of this material on the reduction of the alar scar. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of a newly made aloe vera cream on alar wound healing after rhinoplasty. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized, double-arm, parallel-group, double-blind controlled trial and was done from June 2021 to February 2022. External wedge resection was done for all patients. The patients were randomly assigned to receive aloe vera cream (n=31) (intervention group) or Face Doux cream (comparison group) (n = 29). A pharmacist prepared the aloe vera cream. The primary outcome measure was the wound scar status which was assessed by two Questionnaires, including the mean Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ) and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). Randomization and Blinding were done. Results: The mean PSAQ was significantly lower in group A after two weeks (26.9 versus 31.5, P<0.001), after two months (15.7 versus 19.6, P=0.04), and six months follow-up (8.8 versus 11.8, P=0.005). The mean VSS was significantly lower in group A after two weeks (5.6 versus 7.1, P=0.001), after two months (3.5 versus 4.9, P=0.002), and six months (1.2 versus 2.7, P<0.001). Repeated measurement analysis showed that both interventions significantly affected PSAQ and VSS. Conclusion: Although both interventions had a significant effect on PSAQ and VSS, compared to Face Duox, the topical use of Aloe Vera cream significantly reduced scar formation after alar resection, both statistically and clinically.