Herb Of The Week - Aloe Vera - Medical Attributes

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Wonderful info about Aloe ...

 

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Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

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http://wilkes.edu/~kklemow/Aloe.html

 

Medical Attributes of Aloe vera - The Aloe Plant

by Chris Haydu, Natalie Karpinich, and Tina Sidonio

 

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PA

July, 1997

 

Aloe vera, commonly referred to as aloe, is a member of the Liliaceae

(Lily family). Aloe vera evolved in Africa. However, it is now

cultivated in many parts of the world including the southern United

States (Anon., 1997a). A. vera contains four active ingredients used to

treat various ailments. B-sitosterol, a sterol found in the skin or sap

portion of the leaf is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent (Waller,

1978). The second active ingredient consists of mucopolysaccharides

(MPS) which are long chain sugar molecules effective in the treatment of

inflammation, AIDS, and cancer (Danhof, 1997). The emodin and lectins

are anti-tumor agents effective in their ability to control cancer

(Anon., 1997c).

 

The anti-inflammatory quality of B-sitosterol found in A. vera has been

tested extensively. In an ear swelling assay, A. vera extracts decreased

inflammation by 29.2% when applied topically (Davis et al., 1991). In

another study, A. vera appeared beneficial in an acute inflammatory

model involving rats, but demonstrated no significant effect on chronic

inflammation (Udupa et al., 1994). Mucopolysaccharides of 50 to 600

molecules also reduce inflammation particularly in diseases like

ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and gastric reflux (Danhof, 1997).

 

A. vera contains very large mucopolysaccharides of up to 9,000 molecules

that can treat AIDS (Danhof, 1997). In a clinical trial conducted in the

1980's, patients who took oral mucopolysaccharides showed a 70%

improvement in symptoms within three to four months (Clumick et al.,

1997). The CD4 helper lymphocytes rose, and HIV virus was unable to be

cultured. The P-24 antigen levels of the HIV virus dropped during the

course of this research (Clumick et al., 1997). When 20 ounces of Aloe

vera juice was orally administered to 69 AIDS patients per day,

eighty-one percent of these patients showed eventual disappearance of

their symptoms (Pulse, 1988).

 

Aloe vera produces mucopolysaccharides, emodin, and lectins that aid in

fighting cancer. Aloe mucopolysaccharides are phagocytized by

macrophages that release cytokines (Kemp and Tizard 1997). This immune

effect contributes to the prevention and healing of malignant neoplasms

(Kemp et al, 1997). Emodin and lectins are anti-tumor agents that

control cancer (Anon, 1997a). The anti-cancer effect of aloe on sarcoma

180 in the ICR mouse did not suppress tumor growth, however, it did

promote an increased lifespan between 19% to 32% when it was

administered in dosages between 10 to 100 mg/kg/day respectively (Jeong

et al., 1994). The lectin-like substances in Aloe vera promoted the

attachment of normal human cells instead of tumor cells (Winters et al.,

1981).

 

Another healing property of A. vera is its use in the treatment of

burns. Heggars (1980) noted that A. vera healed third degree burns up to

six times faster than traditional medical treatments and that these

effects were due to steroidal like compounds and salicylic acid. Another

study comparing the healing effects of Aloe vera gel to commercial

products found that in all trials the aloe gel was more effective in the

treatment of burns as noticed by the better histological appearance and

reduced bacterial contamination (Sumano-Lopez et al., 1989). In another

study, burns covering the body surface in canines were examined. It was

found that when an Aloe vera cream was used, it not only reversed the

damage caused by the burns due to prostaglandins, but also wiped out a

bacterial infection in animals with over a 35% burn (Cera et al., 1980).

Various data from this study affirm the bactericidal and

antiprostaglandin effect of Aloe vera cream in the canine species (Cera

et al., 1980).

 

The reputation of Aloe vera as a healer for various ailments is well

known. Dioscorides, Pliny, and Galen have all detailed the successful

uses of aloe. As the centuries passed, A. vera has been used as a

therapy for many more ailments. Even though few negative side effects

regarding the use of A. vera were reported in the literature, caution

and discretion should be employed before venturing into the local

nutrition store and attempting to heal oneself. Companies continue to

promote falsehoods about A. vera and the consumers must take appropriate

measures to ensure that they do not succumb to the advertising scams.

First, A. vera has not been proven to cure anything (Anon., 1997b).

Therefore, if the product promises a cure, more than likely it's a scam.

Also, just as many people are allergic to various foods, it is possible

that one could be allergic to A. vera (Anon, 1997b). Development of

hypersensitivity to aloe has been documented, as for example, after four

years of using oral and topical aloe, a 47 year old man acquired hives

and papular dermatitis (Morrow et al., 1980). It would be wise to

consult your physician before beginning an aloe regimen, and even a

possible skin patch test before drinking the extract. Since the aloe

industry is virtually unregulated, the consumer must be alert of the

benefits and possible side effects when using aloe.

 

 

 

 

LITERATURE CITED

 

Anon. 1997a. About Aloe vera.(obtained from defunct webpage)

 

Anon. 1997b. Aloe vera-What to Believe. (obtained from defunct webpage)

 

Anon. 1997c. Why Aloe Works. (obtained from defunct webpage)

 

Cera, L.M., J.P. Heggars, M.C. Robson and W.J. Hagstrom. 1980. The

therapeutic efficacy of Aloe vera cream in thermal injuries: 2 cases. J

Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 16: 768-772.

 

Clumeck, R.M., T. Pulse, and T. Watson. 1997. Aloe vera and AIDS

research. http://www.santrel.com/clinicalabstract/immuno4.html

 

Danhof, I. 1997. Fundamentals of Aloe vera mucopolysaccharides.

http://wholeleaf.com/aloeverainfo/aloeveramucopolysaccharides.html

 

Davis, R.H., W.L. Parker, R.T. Samson, and D.P. Murdoch. 1991. The

isolation of an active inhibitory sytem from an extract of Aloe vera. J.

Am Podiatr Med Assoc 81: 258-261.

 

Jeong, H.Y., J.H. Kim, S.J. Hwang, and D.K. Rhee. 1994. Anticancer

effects of aloe on sarcoma 180 in ICR mouse and on human cancer cell

lines. Yakhak Hoeji 38: 311-321.

 

Kemp, M. and I. Tizard. 1997. Cancer Research.

http://www.santrel.com/clinicalabstract/cancer1.html

 

Morrow, D.M., M.J. Rapaport and R.A. Strick. 1980. Hypersensitivity to

aloe. Arch Dermatolo 116(9): 1064-1065.

 

Pulse, T.. 1988. Whole leaf Aloe vera juice used in AIDS treatment.

About Aloe vera. (obtained from defunct webpage)

 

Sumano-Lopez, H., L.O. Camberros, and A.A. de Ocampo. 1989. Comparative

evaluation of a mixture of propolis and Aloe vera with commercial wound

healing products. Veterinaria 20(4):407-414.

 

Udupa, S.L., A.L. Udupa and D.R. Kulkarni. 1994. Anti-inflammatory and

wound healing properties of Aloe vera. Fitoterapia 65(2): 141-145.

 

Waller, G.R. 1978. About Aloe vera. (obtained from defunct webpage)

 

Winters, W.D., R. Benavides, and W.J. Clouse. 1981. Effects of aloe

extracts on human normal and tumor cells in vitro. Econ Bot 35: 89-95.

 

 

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This paper was developed as part of the BIO 368 - Medical Botany course

offered at Wilkes University during the summer of 1997. Course

instructor was Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D. (kklemow).

The information contained herein is based on published sources, and is

made available for academic purposes only. No warrantees, expressed or

implied, are made about the medical usefulness or dangers associated

with the plant species in question.

 

The purpose of presenting these summaries is to promote general

awareness of the scientific understanding related to plants of medical

interest. In keeping with scholarly practice, use of information

contained in these summaries is permitted, as long as the authors are

properly cited.