by Chris Haydu, Natalie Karpinich, and Tina Sidonio Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA

Date:   2/8/2005 8:40:59 AM ( 19 y ago)

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).

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



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The source


http://wilkes1.wilkes.edu/~kklemow/Aloe.html




 

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