Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity

Immulina® mitigates the development of illness when administered during the prodromal period of influenza viral infection in mice (Part 2)

BACKGROUND

Immulina®, a dietary supplement derived from Limnospira (formerly Arthrospira), is being investigated as a potential agent to increase antiviral resilience. In our recently published manuscript, we described the effects of Immulina® on influenza when taken daily, beginning before infection (prophylaxis) or after the onset of clinical symptoms of viral illness (therapeutic). However, the benefit of Immulina® in infected individuals before the manifestation of any symptoms (prodromal) has not been investigated yet.

PURPOSE

To evaluate Immulina®'s potential use to increase the host antiviral immune response using a prodromal therapy regime.

STUDY DESIGN

The efficacy of Immulina® extract was evaluated in rodents using a prodromal protocol (test material administered prior to the emergence of viral illness symptoms).

METHODS

Immulina® (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to both genders of mice, 2 h following influenza A viral infection, and continued daily for 14 days.

RESULTS

Compared to the infected control mice, animals fed Immulina® exhibited statistically significant reduction in the emergence of various physical symptoms of viral-induced illness and decreased viral RNA levels. The effects are likely mediated through the host immune system since the level of various cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ) were significantly increased in lung tissue.

CONCLUSION

This study, together with our previous paper, indicate that Immulina® was most effective at enhancing immune antiviral resilience if administered before or soon after initial infection. The data generated can be used to guide additional research using human subjects.

New opportunities and perspectives on biosynthesis and bioactivities of secondary metabolites from Aloe vera

Historically, the genus Aloe has been an indispensable part of both traditional and modern medicine. Decades of intensive research have unveiled the major bioactive secondary metabolites of this plant. Recent pandemic outbreaks have revitalized curiosity in aloe metabolites, as they have proven pharmacokinetic profiles and repurposable chemical space. However, the structural complexity of these metabolites has hindered scientific advances in the chemical synthesis of these compounds. Multi-omics research interventions have transformed aloe research by providing insights into the biosynthesis of many of these compounds, for example, aloesone, aloenin, noreugenin, aloin, saponins, and carotenoids. Here, we summarize the biological activities of major aloe secondary metabolites with a focus on their mechanism of action. We also highlight the recent advances in decoding the aloe metabolite biosynthetic pathways and enzymatic machinery linked with these pathways. Proof-of-concept studies on in vitro, whole-cell, and microbial synthesis of aloe compounds have also been briefed. Research initiatives on the structural modification of various aloe metabolites to expand their chemical space and activity are detailed. Further, the technological limitations, patent status, and prospects of aloe secondary metabolites in biomedicine have been discussed.

Prophylactic and therapeutic mouse models for evaluating immunologic resilience to infection with influenza virus by Immulina® (Part 1)

BACKGROUND

Illness resulting from influenza is a global health problem that has significant adverse socioeconomic impact. Although various strategies such as flu vaccination have beneficial effects, the risk of this illness has not been eliminated. The use of botanicals may provide a complementary approach by enhancement of the host antiviral immune response.

PURPOSE

Generate preclinical data using rodent models to determine the most effective utility of a Limnospira (formerly Arthrospira)-derived oral supplement (Immulina®) for enhancing host immunity to improve antiviral resilience.

STUDY DESIGN

Two non-lethal mouse models (prophylactic and therapeutic) were used to evaluate the impact of Immulina® on increasing host resilience against experimental influenza infection.

METHODS

Mice were fed Immulina® only for the 2 weeks prior to viral infection (prophylactic regime) or starting 3 days post-viral infection (at the onset of symptoms, therapeutic design). Three doses of Immulina® were evaluated in each model using both female and male mice.

RESULTS

Significant protective effect of Immulina® against viral illness was observed in the prophylactic model (improved clinical scores, less body weight loss, decreased lung/body weight ratio, lower lung viral load, and increased lung IFN-γ and IL-6). Substantially less (minimal) protective effect was observed in the therapeutic model.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that Immulina® exerts a protective effect against influenza illness when administered using a prophylactic regime and may not be effective if given after the onset of symptoms. The results will help to optimally design future clinical trials.

Immunomodulatory Activity of Polysaccharides Isolated from Saussurea salicifolia L. and Saussurea frolovii Ledeb

The genus Saussurea has been used in the preparation of therapies for a number of medical problems, yet not much is known about the therapeutic high-molecular-weight compounds present in extracts from these plants. Since polysaccharides are important in immune modulation, we investigated the chemical composition and immunomodulatory activity of Saussurea salicifolia L. and Saussurea frolovii Ledeb polysaccharides. Water-soluble polysaccharides from the aerial parts of these plants were extracted using water at pHs of 2 and 6 and subsequently precipitated in ethanol to obtain fractions SSP2 and SSP6 from S. salicifolia and fractions SSF2 and SSF6 from S. frolovii. The molecular weights of fractions SSP2, SSP6, SFP2, and SFP6 were estimated to be 143.7, 113.2, 75.3, and 64.3 kDa, respectively. The polysaccharides from S. frolovii contained xylose (67.1-71.7%) and glucose (28.3-32.9%), whereas the polysaccharides from S. frolovii contained xylose (63.1-76.7%), glucose (11.8-19.2%), galactose (4.7-8.3%), and rhamnose (6.8-9.4%). Fractions SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophages, and NO production induced by SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 was not inhibited by polymyxin B treatment of the fractions, whereaspolymyxin B treatment diminished the effects of SFP6, suggesting that SFP6 could contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The LPS-free fractions SSP2, SSP6, and SFP2 had potent immunomodulatory activity, induced NO production, and activated transcription factors NF-κB/AP-1 in human monocytic THP-1 cells and cytokine production by human MonoMac-6 monocytic cells, including interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-γ, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These data suggest that at least part of the beneficial therapeutic effects reported for water extracts of the Saussurea species are due to the modulation of leukocyte functions by polysaccharides.

From Aloe vera Leaf Waste to the Extracts with Biological Potential: Optimization of the Extractions, Physicochemical Characterization, and Biological Activities

In the study, the optimization of the extraction from Aloe vera leaf waste was performed via varying solid-to-solvent ratio, solvent type, extraction time, and technique (maceration, heat-, ultrasound-, and microwave-assisted extractions-HAE, UAE, and MAE, respectively). The optimal extraction conditions for achieving the highest polyphenol content are a 1:30 ratio, 70% ethanol, and 30 min of HAE. Total flavonoid and protein contents were significantly higher in the extract from MAE, while total condensed tannin content was the highest in HAE. LC-MS analysis quantified 13 anthraquinone and chromone compounds. The variations in the FT-IR spectra of the extracts obtained by different extraction procedures are minor. The influence of extraction conditions on the antioxidant ability of the extracts depended on applied antioxidant assays. The extracts possessed medium inhibition properties against Staphylococcus aureus and weak inhibitory activity against Enterococcus feacalis. The extracts had stimulative effect on HaCaT cell viability. Regarding the extraction yield, there was a significant difference between the used extraction techniques (MAE > HAE > maceration and UAE). The presented study is an initial step in the production of polyphenol-rich extracts from A. vera leaf waste aimed to be used for the potential preparation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations for the skin.

Immunopathological studies on Escherichia coli infected broiler chickens fed on Aloe vera leaf extract

Escherichia coli infection is the major bacterial disease affecting the poultry industry and the continuous use of antibiotics in poultry farming has resulted in antibiotic resistance. So this study was planned to evaluate the use of an ecologically safe alternative to fight against infections. The leaf gel of the Aloe vera plant was selected based on its antibacterial activity assessed in in-vitro tests. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of A. vera leaf extract supplementation on the severity of clinical signs and pathological lesions, mortality rate, levels of antioxidant enzymes, and immune response in experimentally E. coli-infected broiler chicks. Broiler chicks were supplemented with aqueous Aloe vera Leaf (AVL) extract @ 20 ml per liter of water from day one of age. After seven days of age, they were experimentally infected with E. coli O78 @ 10⁷ CFU/0.5 ml intraperitoneally. Blood was collected at weekly intervals up to 28 days and assayed for antioxidant enzyme assays, and humoral and cellular immune response. The birds were observed daily for clinical signs and mortality. Dead birds were examined for gross lesions and representative tissues were processed for histopathology. The activities of antioxidants, Glutathione reductase (GR), and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) were significantly higher than the control infected group. The E. coli-specific antibody titer and Lymphocyte stimulation Index were comparatively higher in the AVL extract-supplemented infected group as compared to the control infected group. No considerable change was noted in the severity of clinical signs and pathological lesions, and mortality. Thus, Aloe vera Leaf gel extract enhanced the antioxidant activities and cellular immune responses of infected broiler chicks to combat this infection.

Drying-off dairy cows without antibiotic therapy and orally supplemented with lyophilized Aloe arborescens: effects on rumen activity, immunometabolic profile, and milk yield

The drying-off is a stressful stage of the lactation cycle of dairy cows that deeply affects cows' metabolism, inflammatory status, and immune system. The promising effects observed during the transition period resulting from supplementation with Aloe arborescens Mill. suggest its potential utility during this phase. A group of 23 Holstein dairy cows with somatic cell count (SCC) less than 200 × 10³ cells/ml and without intramammary infections were enroled in the study. Cows were divided into two groups: one orally receiving 10 g/day of A. arborescens Mill. lyophilized powder (AL; 11 cows) between -7 and 7 days from dry-off (DFD), and a control group (CTR; 12 cows). From -14 to 7 DFD and 7 and 28 days from calving, the body condition score and rectal temperature were determined, and rumen fluid, feces, milk, and blood samples were collected. Daily rumination times and milk yield were recorded. Data were analyzed through repeated measures mixed models. Compared to the CTR group, AL cows tended to show reduced production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen with acetate proportion that tended to be higher and valerate proportion that was lower. Moreover, Aloe supplementation caused a reduction in fecal dry matter. At the end of drying-off, AL cows presented better liver function, as suggested by higher paraoxonase plasma concentrations at 7 DFD, higher glucose, and lower urea, but showed increased reactive oxygen metabolites. Aloe supplementation at dry-off ameliorated inflammatory status after calving (lower haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin levels), and improved milk yield in the first weeks of subsequent lactation, without influencing milk composition, SCC, and incidence of intramammary infections. These results confirmed the positive effects of Aloe administration on liver function in dairy cows but indicate the need for further studies investigating the effects of Aloe on rumen fermentation profile and oxidative status.

Differences in Metabolite Composition of Aloe barbadensis Mill. Extracts Lead to Differential Effects on Human Blood T Cell Activity In Vitro

Aloe barbadensis Mill. (Aloe) is used for diverse therapeutic properties including immunomodulation. However, owing to the compositionally complex nature of Aloe, bioactive component(s) responsible for its beneficial properties, though thought to be attributed to polysaccharides (acemannan), remain unknown. We therefore aimed to determine the metabolite composition of various commercial Aloe extracts and assess their effects on human blood T cell activity in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors were stimulated polyclonally in presence or absence of various Aloe extracts. T cell phenotype and proliferation were investigated by flow cytometry. Aloe extracts were analyzed using targeted ¹H-NMR spectroscopy for standard phytochemical quality characterization and untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for metabolite profiling. Aloe extracts differing in their standard phytochemical composition had varying effects on T cell activation, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell-death in vitro, although this was not related to the acemannan content. Furthermore, each Aloe extract had its own distinct metabolite profile, where extracts rich in diverse sugar and sugar-derivatives were associated with reduced T cell activity. Our results demonstrate that all commercial Aloe extracts are unique with distinct metabolite profiles, which lead to differential effects on T cell activity in vitro, independent of the acemannan content.

In vitro total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plants using different solvent systems

Recently, an interest has surged in utilizing indigenous medicinal plants to treat infectious illnesses and extract bioactive substances, highlighting the need to analyze medicinal plants for phytochemicals and bioactivities. The present study was aimed to evaluate the impact of different solvent systems (aqueous, ethanol, and methanol) used for extraction on total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity of three medicinal plants of Azad Kashmir (Achillea millefolium, Bergenia ciliata, and Aloe vera). High phenolic content was found in methanol extracts of B. ciliata (27.48 ± 0.58 mg GAE/g dry weight), A. vera (25.61 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g dry weight), and A. millefolium (24.25 ± 0.67 mg GAE/g dry weight). High flavonoid content was obtained in the ethanol extract of A. millefolium (27.13 ± 0.64 mg QE/g dry weight), methanol extract of B. ciliata (17.44 ± 0.44 ± 0.44 mg QE/g dry weight), and the methanol extract of A. vera (14.68 ± 0.67 mg QE/g dry weight). Strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) was obtained with a methanol extract of B. ciliata (IC₅₀ = 60.27 ± 0.20 µg/mL). With a zone of inhibition and a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 10.00 ± 0.66 to 24.67 ± 1.21 mm and 78 to 625 µg/mL, respectively, all of the studied plants demonstrated notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. A. vera showed greater antibacterial activity as compared to other plants under study while methanolic extract showed greater antibacterial activity than ethanolic and aqueous extract. The findings of this research support the use of these medicinal plants to treat a variety of diseases.

The efficiency of natural wound healing and bacterial biofilm inhibition of Aloe vera and Sodium Chloride toothpaste preparation

Background

Prevention is a preliminary focus of periodontitis treatment. Rather than giving complicated treatment to a periodontitis patient, a variety of toothpastes have been suggested to prevent periodontal disease progression. Herbal toothpastes containing natural plant components for maintaining or increasing healing might be a treatment modality for improving oral hygiene. Aloe vera is a medicinal plant with active ingredients that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, increased sodium in the environment inhibits microorganism growth. A toothpaste containing salt and aloe vera may be an option to provide good oral hygiene.

Aim

To assess the in vitro cell migration of human gingival fibroblasts and antimicrobial effects of an herbal toothpaste containing A. vera and Sodium chloride.

Methods

The cytotoxicity of 0.02% or 0.2% toothpaste solution on human gingival fibroblast cell line was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cell migration after treatment with 0.2% (v/v) toothpaste was determined using a Boyden Chamber assay. The effect of the toothpaste on inhibiting Porphylomonas gingivalis planktonic and biofilm growth was compared with Chlohexidine (CHX) using a Disk Diffusion and Biofilm susceptibility test, respectively. The results of the cytotoxicity assay, inhibition zone and percentage of live cells in the biofilm were statistically analyzed with One-way analysis of variance. Cell migration and biofilm inhibition were evaluated using the independent sample t-test and multiple t-test, respectively (p = 0.05).

Results

Neither test concentration of the toothpaste solution was toxic to the target cells. The 0.2% concentration was selected for the cell migration experiment. The herbal toothpaste formulation significantly increased cell migration compared with the control group (culture medium) (p = .02) The antimicrobial effect of this formulation on the P. gingivalis planktonic form was lower compared with 0.12% CHX (positive control group), however, it demonstrated greater P. gingivalis biofilm formation inhibition compared with the 0.12% CHX group.

Conclusions

The alternative use of an herbal toothpaste instead of a non-herbal toothpaste formulation should be considered for promoting oral health care. However, further clinical studies are necessary before it can be considered for patient use.

The dark side of miracle plant-Aloe vera: a review

BACKGROUND

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), commonly known as Ghritkumari/Gwarpatha, is a member of the Liliaceae family, used in the traditional medicine system for ages. Aloe vera has made its importance as a therapeutic agent, acting as a cure for various diseases such as skin problems, lungs, and heart disorders, diabetes, ulcers, various microbial infections, and asthma. Despite its tremendous health benefits, the dark side of the plant is a reason of concern as there are several active compounds present in the plant, raising questions on its safe oral consumption and application.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The literature review was compiled from information resourced from various national and international journals available at Google Scholar and curated with Mendeley. The data mining was carried out during the period of January to May 2021. This study explored and summarized the dark side of Aloe vera, subjected to various secondary metabolites present in it. Aloin, the most active compound of Aloe vera, is a type of anthraquinone metabolized by human gut microflora, resulting in the formation of aloe-emodin anthraquinone, later being associated with several harmful effects such as carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and purgative. Besides this, several alkaloids and polysaccharides present in the plant are reported to cause hepatotoxicity and male infertility, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The harmful effects of the plants are not adequately discovered yet; hence there is a need to come up with some mechanism to understand and suppress the formation of such toxic compounds completely. This review examined the botany, active compounds, and adverse clinical effects in the range of metabolites associated with this herb - "Aloe vera".

Aloe vera carbohydrates regulate glucose metabolism through improved glycogen synthesis and downregulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetic rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is an ancient medicinal plant that belongs to the family Asphodelaceae. It has a rich source of bioactive constituents such as carbohydrates, polyphenols, peptides, sterols and tannins, etc. Aloe vera has multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study investigated the antidiabetic mechanism of Aloe vera carbohydrate fraction (AVCF) and aimed to provide insights into the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes in glucose homeostasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antidiabetic effect of AVCF was evaluated using α-amylase, α-glucosidase inhibition, glucose diffusion and glucose uptake assay. The in vitro AVCF effect on insulin secretion, cell proliferation and inflammatory markers were determined using streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress on RIN-m5F cells. Streptozotocin-induced male Wistar diabetic rats were treated for 21 days with AVCF (54 mg/kg bw). The in vivo AVCF effect was measured on fasting plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, hexokinase, glycogen synthase and glucose-6-phosphatase, levels in diabetic rats. Histopathological studies for organ-specific effects in the pancreas, liver and small intestine were also conducted.

RESULTS

AVCF-treated RIN-m5F cells significantly increased BrdU levels, with insulin secretion, and decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide levels. AVCF treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats showed significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose, glucagon and glucose-6-phosphatase levels with a concomitant increase in insulin, hexokinase, and glycogen synthase levels and, glycogen content. These findings corroborate with the improved hepatic glycogen content in the PAS stained histological section of the liver of AVCF treated diabetic rats.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that CF of Aloe vera improved glucose metabolism by activation of glycogenesis and down-regulation of gluconeogenesis thereby, maintaining glucose homeostasis. Hence, AVCF can be used as an alternative medicine in the alleviation of diabetes mellitus symptoms.

Gentiana straminea Maxim. polysaccharide decolored via high-throughput graphene-based column and its anti-inflammatory activity

Gentiana straminea Maxim. exhibits various biological activities. However, the purification and functions of polysaccharides in Gentiana straminea Maxim. have never been reported. Herein, by proposing a flexible 3D graphene-based decoloration column (3DD column), Gentiana straminea Maxim. polysaccharide (GMP) was high-throughput obtained and its anti-inflammatory activity was investigated. Benefiting from the large macroporous network of 3D NH₂-graphene oxide hydrogel with selective adsorption towards pigments, the 3DD column exhibits high decoloration ratio (96.41%). In addition, the 3DD column provides superior practical functionality as compared to the traditional approaches, which are time-consuming and need toxic solvents, and exhibiting widespread-application for the purification of polysaccharide from other common plant species. More importantly, the decolored GMP as a natural product has promising anti-inflammatory activity on RAW264.7 cells without negative impact on cell viability. Overall, this work reveals a new functional polysaccharides and provides a flexible approach for polysaccharide decoloration, exhibiting a promising prospect for natural polysaccharides in practical application of pharmaceutical.

Strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance in Indian scenario

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major public health crisis recognised globally. Microbial infections cause significant productivity losses in animals and humans. In livestock, these microbial infections reduce the growth rates and fertility, diminish production of meat and milk, and occasionally lead to mortality, and are therefore, a major concern for animal welfare. In the dearth of alternative prophylactic measures, antibiotics remain the principal tool for their management. Once an antibiotic is used rampantly, resistance against it is inevidently seen in the microbe population and the hunt for a new drug grows. Discovery and development of a new antimicrobial drug is a time taking and expensive procedure with limited assurance of success. As a result, the past few decades have witnessed only a very few new classes of antibiotics. If the AMR can be restricted or reverted, the success rate of antimicrobial therapy can be boosted and many public health issues be avoided. All these ask for a comprehensive plan to prevent or reduce the antimicrobial resistance and economic losses to the animal husbandry sector. The present review provides an overview of AMR in India, mechanism of its occurrence and the possible roadmap to combat the emerging threat of AMR in Indian scenario.

Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents-Inspiration from Immunomodulatory Natural Products

Developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs remains an important issue as viral infections continue to threaten public health. Host-directed therapy is a method that focuses on potential targets in host cells or the body, instead of viral proteins. Its antiviral effects are achieved by disturbing the life cycles of pathogens or modulating immunity. In this review, we focus on the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that enhance the immune response. Some natural products present antiviral effects mediated by enhancing immunity, and their structures and mechanisms are summarized here. Natural products with immunomodulatory effects are also discussed, although their antiviral effects remain unknown. Given the power of immunity and the feasibility of host-directed therapy, we argue that both of these categories of natural products provide clues that may be beneficial for the discovery of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

Molecular mechanisms and associated cell signalling pathways underlying the anticancer properties of phytochemical compounds from Aloe species (Review)

Naturally occurring components from various species of Aloe have been used as traditional folk medicine since the ancient times. Over the last few decades, the therapeutic effects of extracts and phytochemical compounds obtained from Aloe vera have been proven in preclinical and clinical studies. Recently, compounds from other Aloe species apart from Aloe vera have been investigated for the treatment of different diseases, with a particular focus on cancer. In the present review, the effects of phytochemical compounds obtained from different Aloe species are discussed, with a specific focus on the effects on cell signalling in cancer and normal cells, and their selectivity and efficacy. This information will be useful for the application of Aloe-derived compounds as therapeutic agents, either alone or in combination with other standard drugs for cancer treatment.

Biochemical and histopathological changes related to the topical application of Aloe vera ointment for canine pyoderma

Background and Aim:

Pyoderma is common in dogs, and its treatment requires a novel medication rather than antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to determine the biochemical and histopathological changes associated with the topical application of Aloe vera 20% and 40% ointments, compared with gentamicin 0.1% ointment, in dogs suffering from Staphylococcus aureus pyoderma.

Materials and Methods:

Serum and skin samples were collected from a negative control group before inducing pyoderma and from other subdivided groups on the 3^rd, 7^th, 10^th, and 14^th days post-inoculation for biochemical and histopathology examination.

Results:

Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine concentrations were higher in the positive control dogs on the 3^rd day without treatment (DWT) compared with the negative control dogs (p<0.05). Compared with the healthy control dogs, serum zinc concentrations were lower in the positive control group on the 3^rd, 7^th, and 10^th DWT and in dogs treated with A. vera 20% and gentamicin 0.1% ointments on the 3^rd and 7^th days post-treatment (p<0.05). Grossly, skin had erythema, pruritus, and pus-filled pustules of the untreated group. Microscopically, skin showed epidermal necrosis and edema, dermal collagen necrosis, and severe neutrophilic infiltration.

Conclusion:

Compared with A. vera 20% and gentamicin 0.1% ointments, the topical application of A. vera 40% ointment-induced quicker skin healing and decreased the inflammatory changes caused by S. aureus inoculation, based on biochemical and histopathological changes reflective of its curative efficiency. A. vera 40% ointment may be a suitable alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of staphylococcal pyoderma in dogs.

Assessing the topical application efficiency of two biological agents in managing chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in children: A randomized clinical trial

Background

oral mucositis is one of the most annoying complications of chemotherapy. This randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the efficiency of Aloe Vera and Olive Oil in managing chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

Methods

36 children between 6 and 9 years and suffering from grade 3 or 4 oral mucositis, according to the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) scale, were enrolled in this clinical trial. Participants were separated into three groups to treat their mucositis using Aloe Vera, Olive Oil, or sodium bicarbonate. Nurses administrated the agents four times daily with sponge sticks. Two blinded investigators examined the oral mucosa after ten days.

Results

Both Aloe Vera and Olive Oil significant differences in the management of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis compared to sodium bicarbonate treatments.

Conclusions

Olive Oil is effective in managing CIOM.

Extract of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) Enhances the Growth, Protein Contents, and Gastrosomatic Index (GaSI) of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

Aquaculture is a growing agribusiness, and large-scale microbial infection frequently leads to considerable economic losses, as there are very few approved drugs available to counteract such a problem. Aloe vera is a natural therapeutic plant with biological activities, for example, antimicrobial, anticancer, mitigating, and immunomodulatory properties. Thus, an experiment was conducted to understand the effects of dietary Aloe vera on survival, growth performance, protein utilization, gastrosomatic index, and gut histomorphological studies in common carp in laboratory conditions. Aloe vera leaves were collected, washed, shade-dried, and homogenized to get a filtrate, which was extracted in ethanol (70%) using the Soxhlet apparatus. The carp with an average weight of 1.73 ± 0.14 g was divided randomly into 5 treatments (control and other 4 treated groups) with the extract of 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.6% in the diet with 3 replicates and the stocking density was 25 fish per each replicate. Sampling was done on the 30th, 60th, and 90th days, and the results show that percent weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion efficiency were significantly high in the treated diet compared to the control (0.0%). Gastrosomatic index, condition factors, and gut histology found better performance in common carp group fed 0.4% and 0.8% of Aloe vera after 90 days. In conclusion, it was found that Aloe vera extract between the amount of 0.4% and 0.8% is better for fish growth for common carp.

Effects of Aloe Vera on healing of colonic anastomoses: experimental rat study

Background Although herbal medicinal products are being used widely throughout the World, beneficial and harmful effects have not been well documented. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of Aloe Vera (AV) on colonic anastomosis healing.

Material and methods 112 albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five main groups: preoperative Aloe Vera Group (P), pre- and postoperative Aloe Vera Group (PP), Control Group (C), sham Aloe Vera Group (SA) and Sham Control Group (SC). Groups P, PP, and SA received 1.6 mL/kg per day Aloe Vera by orogastric feeding catheter for 1 month prior to the experiment. Groups P, PP, and C underwent anastomosis of the distal colon, and subgroups (n = 4) of each were sacrificed on postoperative day 3, 7, 14 and 21. Anastomotic bursting pressure, perianastomotic collagen content and histopathological changes were studied.

Results The SC Group had significantly higher ABP when compared with the SA Group (p = 0.0002), although hydroxyproline content showed no difference. When ABP was compared between anastomosis groups, it was found significantly lower in Aloe Vera groups on Day 3 (P3 vs. C3, p = 0.003 and PP3 vs. C3, p = 0.007). Hydroxyproline content was significantly lower in Group PP than Group C, also on Day 3 (p = 0.05). Significant difference was not detected after Day 3 in any of the study parameters.

Conclusion  Aloe Vera decreased tissue collagen content in the early postoperative period. It is advisable to call into question the concomitant usage of conventional medicine and the herbal supplements for the surgeons in their clinical practice.

Immunobiology and Application of Aloe Vera-Based Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering

Aloe vera (AV), a succulent plant belonging to the Liliaceae family, has been widely used for biomedical and pharmaceutical application. Its popularity stems from several of its bioactive components that have anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and even immunomodulatory effects. Given such unique multi-modal biological impact, AV has been considered as a biomaterial for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications, where tissue repair and neo-angiogenesis are vital. This review outlines the growing scientific evidence that demonstrates the advantage of AV as tissue engineering scaffolds. We particularly highlight the recent advances in the application of AV-based scaffolds. From a tissue engineering perspective, it is pivotal that the implanted scaffolds strike an appropriate foreign body response to be well-accepted in the body without complications. Herein, we highlight the key cellular processes that regulate the foreign body response to implanted scaffolds and underline the immunomodulatory effects incurred by AV on the innate and adaptive system. Given that AV has several beneficial components, we discuss the importance of delving deeper into uncovering its action mechanism and thereby improving material design strategies for better tissue engineering constructs for biomedical applications.

Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Effects of Polysaccharides

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and one of the most important public health problems in the world. And every year, millions of new cancers and hundreds of thousands of cancer-related deaths are reported worldwide. In recent decades, a number of biologically active polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes have been isolated from plants, lichen, algae, yeast, fungi and mushroom, and due to their antitumor and immunomodulatory properties, these compounds have received considerable attention. Overall, the two key mechanisms by which polysaccharides act on tumor cells are direct action (inhibition of cancer cell growth and induction of programmed cell death/apoptosis) and indirect action (stimulation of immunity). Immunosuppressive effects are recognizable in both cancer patients and tumor bearing animals, suggesting that the immune system plays an important role in the immune surveillance of cancer cells. Thus, enhancement of the host immune response has been evaluated as a possible way of inhibiting tumor growth without damaging the host. In addition to their therapeutic and prophylactic properties, the polysaccharides are effective and less toxic than chemotherapy. The anticancer activity and immunomodulatory effects of most polysaccharides have shown the promising and real potential for the benefits of human health.

Insight into anti-oxidative carbohydrate polymers from medicinal plants: Structure-activity relationships, mechanism of actions and interactions with bovine serum albumin

Recently, research associated with natural anti-oxidants leads to the chemical characterization of many compounds possessing strong anti-oxidant activity. Among these anti-oxidants, naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers containing pectic arabinogalactans esterified with phenolic acids in monomeric and dimeric forms are noteworthy. The presence of highly branched arabinogalactan type II side chains and sugar linked phenolic acid residues have been resolved as important parameters. The anti-oxidant activity of these compounds depend on their ability to convert free radicals into stable by-products and themselves oxidized to more stable and less reactive resonance stabilized radicals. Moreover, these carbohydrate polymers form water soluble stable complexes with protein. Such findings support their applications in a diversity of fields including food industry and pharmacy. This review highlights experimental evidences supporting that the carbohydrate polymers containing phenolic polysaccharides may become promising drug candidate for the prevention of aging and age related diseases.

Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Active Fish Gelatin-Based Edible Films Added with Aloe Vera Gel

Edible films based on the addition of Aloe Vera gel (AV) into fish gelatin (FG) with antimicrobial and functional properties for food packaging applications were proposed in this work. AV showed an amphiphilic nature by infrared spectroscopy, high total phenolics content (TPC), antioxidant activity and thermal stability with an initial degradation temperature of 174 ± 2 °C. Mannose and glucose were quantified as main monosaccharides whereas the linkage composition study confirmed the presence of acemannan as main active polysaccharide. Three different formulations were obtained by the casting technique and the addition of AV contents of 0, 1 and 4 wt.% to FG, showing films with 4 wt.% of AV the best performance. The addition of AV did not significantly affect mechanical and barrier properties to oxygen and water vapour. However, some structural changes were observed by infrared spectroscopy and the obtained glass transition temperature values due to intermolecular interactions that increased the hydrophilicity and solubility of the resulting FG/AV films. A higher thermal stability was observed in films with AV content increasing the initial degradation and oxidation onset temperatures. An antimicrobial activity against S. aureus was also observed for FG/AV films. The addition of AV into FG could be proposed as a potential effective material to increase the postharvest quality of packed fruits and vegetables by retarding the microbial growth and extending the shelf-life of these food products.

Plant-Derived Nutraceuticals and Immune System Modulation: An Evidence-Based Overview

Immunomodulators are agents able to affect the immune system, by boosting the immune defences to improve the body reaction against infectious or exogenous injuries, or suppressing the abnormal immune response occurring in immune disorders. Moreover, immunoadjuvants can support immune system acting on nonimmune targets, thus improving the immune response. The modulation of inflammatory pathways and microbiome can also contribute to control the immune function. Some plant-based nutraceuticals have been studied as possible immunomodulating agents due to their multiple and pleiotropic effects. Being usually more tolerable than pharmacological treatments, their adjuvant contribution is approached as a desirable nutraceutical strategy. In the present review, the up to date knowledge about the immunomodulating properties of polysaccharides, fatty acids and labdane diterpenes have been analyzed, in order to give scientific basic and clinical evidence to support their practical use. Since promising evidence in preclinical studies, limited and sometimes confusing results have been highlighted in clinical trials, likely due to low methodological quality and lacking standardization. More investigations of high quality and specificity are required to describe in depth the usefulness of these plant-derived nutraceuticals in the immune system modulation, for health promoting and disease preventing purposes.

Enhancement of the Anti-Skin Wrinkling Effects of Aloe arborescens Miller Extracts Associated with Lactic Acid Fermentation

This work clearly shows that Aloe arborescens but not gels from Aloe vera, a common juice-type product of Aloe, exerted anti-skin wrinkling effects, and these effects were greatly enhanced by lactic acid fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum. Treatment with the extract from the fermentation process (FE) at a dose of 0.5% highly activated human fibroblast cells by up to 175%, whereas 140% activation and 105% activation were observed with the extract obtained using conventional water extraction (WE) and the gel from A. vera (GE), respectively. The treatment of human fibroblasts with FE at a dose of 0.5% increased collagen production by up to 170% and inhibited MMP-1 synthesis to 48%, which is likely due to its high antioxidant activity because the WE and GE showed markedly lower effects compared with those of the FE. Interestingly, the FE exhibited a profile dominated by relatively low-molecular-weight (MW) polysaccharides: 20% of the total polysaccharides in the FE were in the MW weight range of 600 to 900, whereas 95% of the total polysaccharides in the GE were in the MW range of 200,000 to 300,000. This result suggests that the larger polysaccharide molecules in the extract might be broken down during lactic acid fermentation, and the easy penetration of the small molecules in the extract into fibroblast cells thus results in improved anti-skin wrinkling effects. This conclusion is also supported by the finding that the FE and WE, but not the GE, contained similar amounts of barbaloin, a strong antioxidant eluted from A. arborescens through the fermentation process. Therefore, this study strongly indicates that the enhanced anti-skin wrinkling effects of the FE are most likely due to synergistic effects between the barbaloin and the low-MW polysaccharides retained after the fermentation process.

Complementary and alternative medications in the management of inflammatory bowel disease

The use of complementary and alternative medications (CAM), products, and therapies not considered to be part of conventional medicine is common among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients often turn to these therapies as they are considered natural and safe, with significant benefit reported beyond disease control. There is emerging evidence that some of these therapies may have anti-inflammatory activity; however, robust evidence for their efficacy in modulating disease activity is currently lacking. Patients often avoid discussing the use of CAM with their physicians, which may lead to drug interactions and/or reduced adherence with conventional therapy. It is important for physicians to be aware of the commonly used CAM and current evidence behind these therapies in order to better counsel their patients about their use in the management of IBD. This narrative review provides an overview of the evidence of the more commonly used CAM in patients with IBD.

Macrophage polarization in wound healing: role of aloe vera/chitosan nanohydrogel

The balance between M1 and M2 macrophages plays an important role in wound healing. Interestingly, this immune response can be modulated by natural biomaterials such as chitosan nanohydrogel (Ch) and aloe vera (AV). Therefore, we aimed to improve wound recovery response by exploiting the potential healing properties of Ch and AV. Wounds were created in rats and were treated daily with either saline (control), AV, Ch, or different ratios of AV (volume):Ch (weight) (1:1), (2:1), and (3:1). M1 (iNOS, TNF-α) and M2 (CD163, TGF-β) responses were analyzed at days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Wound healing increased within the third and seventh days in AV-Ch (3:1) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). In the treated groups, immunohistochemistry of iNOS expression decreased on the third day (P < 0.0001) while CD163 increased (P < 0.0001) on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. The gene expression of TGF-β decreased on the third day in AV group (P < 0.03) and on the 21st and 28th days in Ch-treated group (P < 0.00). TNF-α expression decreased in AV, Ch, and AV-Ch (3:1 v/w) on the 14th and 28th days (P < 0.00). TGF-β and TNF-α proteins decreased on the 28th day compared to the control and AV-Ch (3:1 v/w), respectively. AV-Ch (1 and 3:1 v/w) and Ch resulted in optimum wound repair by decreasing M1 after 3 days and increasing M2 after 14. Thus, Ch nanohydrogel, especially in combination with 1:1 and 1:3 ratio to AV, could be a proper candidate for modulating macrophages in response to wound healing.

Spirulina extract enriched for Braun-type lipoprotein (Immulina®) for inhibition of 4T1 breast tumors' growth and metastasis

Spirulina platensis extracts have exhibited considerable anti-cancer effects. To investigate the efficacy of the Spirulina extract enriched for Braun-type lipoprotein (Immulina®) for breast cancer treatment, 4T1 breast tumor-bearing mice were treated with 40 mg/kg Immulina® daily and the tumors' growth and metastasis were assessed. Also, CD4, CD8, and CD56 staining were performed to investigate the Immulina® effect on the immune cells' recruitment to the tumors by immunohistochemistry. Immulina® could significantly (P < 0.001) inhibit 4T1 breast tumors' growth. Immulina®-treated group exhibited a 63% decrease in the tumors' volume in comparison with control (P < 0.001). Also, Immulina® could significantly (P < 0.001) decrease metastatic burden at the vital organs as 68% and 61% decrease in the liver and lungs metastatic colonies were observed, respectively. Also, Immulina® could increase mean survival time of the tumor-bearing mice for 29 days. The Spirulina-treated mice tumors contained significantly more infiltrated NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes in comparison with control. Taking together, Immulina® can be a safe anti-cancer supplement with the ability to cause direct apoptosis to the cancer cells and activate the immune system against tumor. This supplement with natural origin seems to have bright future to help breast cancer patients.

Screening the UV-blocking and antimicrobial properties of herbal nanoparticles prepared from Aloe vera leaves for textile applications

Nanomaterials play a vital role in textile industries due to their unique properties and applications. There is an increase in the use of nanoscale phyto products in textiles to control the bacterial infection in fabrics. Here, natural herbal nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared from shade-dried Aloe vera plant leaves using ball milling technique without any additives. The amorphous herbal A. vera nanoparticles possess an average particle size of 40 ± 2 nm and UV-absorption maximum at 269 nm. A. vera nanopowders-chitosan nanocomposites were prepared and coated on cotton fabrics using pad-dry cure method. The evaluation of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (22.05 ± 0.06 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (27.17 ± 0.02 mm), UV-protection properties (UV-protection factor = 57.2 ± 0.1), and superhydrophobic nature (155 ± 3°) of the prepared herbal nanoparticles and their composites were analysed by disc diffusion, UV-visible spectral analysis, and contact angle analysis. Understanding the functional properties of herbal nanoparticles, coated particles on fabrics highlights their potential applications in protective clothing with better antimicrobial properties, hydrophobicity, and UV-protection properties. This study of using A. vera herbal nanoparticles in textiles significantly enhances the fabric performance to develop protective textile fabrics in defence and biomedical fields.

Aloe vera as an herbal medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome: A review

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a highly prevalent health problem worldwide and is associated with different risk factors, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. This condition increases the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular problems. The MS is one of the most important health concerns in industrialized countries and mainly results from a sedentary lifestyle, high levels of subjective stress, and unhealthy diets. Nowadays, the identification of appropriate health care approaches, such as herbal medicines, with fewer side effects is more favorable, especially with regard to the adverse effects of chemical drugs. Aloe barbadensis Miller known as Aloe vera is a useful plant with two major parts, including leaves that contain high concentrations of anthraquinone compounds and a clear gel. The gel is used as a food with several beneficial properties, such as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and wound-healing features. Other effects of A. vera, such as its lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and cardioprotective impacts, have been demonstrated in several studies. The present study was conducted to review the evidence on the pharmacological effects of A. vera on the different components of MS.

Carrier oils in dermatology

Wounds are a common medical infliction. With the increase in microbial resistance and a shift of interest towards complementary medicines, essential oils have been shown to be beneficial in suppressing microbial growth. However, in practice, essential oils are more often diluted into a base due to the risk of topical adverse effects, such as dermatitis. There is a lack of collated evidence-based information on toxicity and efficacy of carrier oils. The current information on the subject matter is restricted to generic, aroma-therapeutic books and pamphlets, based on anecdotal evidence rather than an experimental approach. Therefore, this review aimed at identifying the recommended carrier oils used in dermatology and thereafter collating the scientific evidence to support the use of carrier oils together with essential oils recommended for dermatological use. Aloe vera gel had multiple studies demonstrating the ability to enhance wound healing; however, several other carrier oils have been largely neglected. It was observed that the extracts for certain plant species had been used to justify the use of the carrier oils of the same plant species. This is an inaccurate cross assumption due to the difference in chemical composition and biological activities. Lastly, despite these carrier oils being recommended as a base for essential oils, very little data was found on the interactive profile of the carrier oil with the essential oil. This review provides a platform for further studies, especially if essential oils are to receive credence in the scientific field.

Therapeutic potential of Aloe vera-A miracle gift of nature

BACKGROUND

Aloe vera is commonly used in the primary health care of human beings since time immemorial. It is an herb widely used in various traditional systems of medicine worldwide. Systematic and scientific investigation on A. vera as a medicinal plant has drawn considerable attention, and many laboratories are involved in isolation, characterization and evaluation of phytoconstituents for their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the phytochemical, biological and medicinal attributes of A. vera against various diseases with special emphasis on underlying mechanisms of action.

METHODS

PubMed, EBOSCO host, Science Direct, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases were utilized to search literature published between1977 and 2019 (till March). Major keywords used in various combinations included: Aloe vera, phytochemistry, metabolism, pharmacological activity, prevention, treatment, health, disease, in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies.

RESULTS

Various biological and pharmacological activities of A. vera, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, and skin-protective and wound-healing responses, have been attributed to the presence of many active compounds, including anthraquinones, anthrones, chromones, flavonoids, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

CONCLUSION

Based on various preclinical studies, A. vera constituents have enormous potential to prevent and treat various diseases. Randomized clinical trials are needed to understand the full therapeutic potential of this unique medicinal plant.

In Vitro Immunomodulatory Effect of Food Supplement from Aloe vera

Food industries typically use Aloe vera as concentrated (100× to 200×) and dried powders in their final products. These powders are obtained by extrusion of Aloe inner leaf gel (ILG) or Aloe whole leaf (WLP); the juice is filtered through diatomaceous earth and activated carbon before spray drying at temperatures below 70 °C. In another process, Aloe inner leaf gel was dried at ~80 °C and mashed to a powder rich in high molecular weight fibres and soluble polysaccharides (ILF). In contrast to ILG and WLP, the ILF sample was cytotoxic for the human intestinal cell line Caco-2 (CC₅₀ = 1 g/l), even at concentrations below the recommended dose for human consumption. At lower concentrations (250 mg/l) with LPS challenged macrophage-like THP-1 cells decreased by 40% the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, whereas the release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β increased by 35% (compared to untreated but challenged macrophage-like THP-1 cells). Unexpectedly, under the same conditions, the less cytotoxic ILG and WLP, both samples with a lower fibre content, significantly increased (up to 2.4 times) the release of IL-10, while the concentration of IL-1β remained unaltered and of TNFα decreased by 35%. Even more interesting is that a treatment of the ILF sample with activated carbon reduced its cytotoxicity and increased the IL-10 release (3.1 times). Based on these results, we suggest applying an activated carbon treatment on Aloe-starting products, which have high fibre content and have received high temperature treatment, in order to reduce their cytotoxicity and improve their immunomodulatory properties.

Aloe Genus Plants: From Farm to Food Applications and Phytopharmacotherapy

Aloe genus plants, distributed in Old World, are widely known and have been used for centuries as topical and oral therapeutic agents due to their health, beauty, medicinal, and skin care properties. Among the well-investigated Aloe species are A. arborescens, A. barbadensis, A. ferox, and A. vera. Today, they account among the most economically important medicinal plants and are commonly used in primary health treatment, where they play a pivotal role in the treatment of various types of diseases via the modulation of biochemical and molecular pathways, besides being a rich source of valuable phytochemicals. In the present review, we summarized the recent advances in botany, phytochemical composition, ethnobotanical uses, food preservation, and the preclinical and clinical efficacy of Aloe plants. These data will be helpful to provide future directions for the industrial and medicinal use of Aloe plants.

The Effects of Aloe Vera on TNF-a Levels, the Percentage of Nk Cells and Th 17 Cells in Rat That Received Izoniazid and Rifampycin

Background:

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Aloe vera against side effect of antituberculosis drug.

Material and methods:

Twenty-five rats will be divided into five groups, namely the control group (without any treatment), the group of rats treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs, and a group of rats were treated antituberculosis drugs and got Aloe vera extract at a dose of 40; 80; and 120 mg/kg body weight. Antituberculosis drugs are isoniazid and rifampicin a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight.

Results:

Antituberculosis treated group showed significantly increase levels of TNF-a, the percentage of NK cells and the number of Th17 cells compared with the control group (p < 0.05). All doses of Aloe vera reduce levels of TNF-a compared with the antituberculosis group (p < 0.05), although it has not yet reached levels comparable to the control group (p > 0.05). Aloe vera at first and the third dose lower the number of NK cells compared to the antituberculosis group, although it has not yet reached a significant difference (p > 0.05). The first dose of Aloe vera was significantly decreased the percentage of Th17 cells compared to the antituberculosis drug group (p < 0.05), although it has not yet reached levels comparable to the control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

It was concluded that administration of Aloe vera can suppress the production of TNF-a and the percentage of Th17 cells as a result of antituberculosis drug administration. Thus, Aloe vera can be a useful alternative to natural materials in the successful treatment of tuberculosis through the inhibition of side effect.

De novo sequencing, assembly and characterisation of Aloe vera transcriptome and analysis of expression profiles of genes related to saponin and anthraquinone metabolism

BACKGROUND

Aloe vera is a perennial, succulent, drought-resistant plant that exhibits many pharmacological characteristics such as wound healing ability against skin burns, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-asthmatic and much more. Despite great medicinal worth, little genomic information is available on Aloe vera. This study is an initiative to explore the full-scale functional genomics of Aloe vera by generating whole transcriptome sequence database, using Illumina HiSeq technology and its progressive annotation specifically with respect to the metabolic specificity of the plant.

RESULTS

Transcriptome sequencing of root and leaf tissue of Aloe vera was performed using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. De novo assembly of high quality paired-end reads, resulted into 1,61,733 and 2,21,792 transcripts with mean length of 709 and 714 nucleotides for root and leaf respectively. The non-redundant transcripts were clustered using CD-HIT-EST, yielding a total of 1,13,063 and 1,41,310 unigenes for root and leaf respectively. A total of 6114 and 6527 CDS for root and leaf tissue were enriched into 24 different biological pathway categories using KEGG pathway database. DGE profile prepared by calculating FPKM values was analyzed for differential expression of specific gene encoding enzymes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Sixteen putative genes related to saponin, lignin, anthraquinone, and carotenoid biosynthesis were selected for quantitative expression by real-time PCR. DGE as well as qRT PCR expression analysis represented up-regulation of secondary metabolic genes in root as compared to leaf. Furthermore maximum number of genes was found to be up-regulated after the induction of methyl jasmonate, which stipulates the association of secondary metabolite synthesis with the plant's defense mechanism during stress. Various transcription factors including bHLH, NAC, MYB were identified by searching predicted CDS against PlantTFdb.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first transcriptome database of Aloe vera and can be potentially utilized to characterize the genes involved in the biosynthesis of important secondary metabolites, metabolic regulation, signal transduction mechanism, understanding function of a particular gene in the biology and physiology of plant of this species as well as other species of Aloe genus.

TLR2 Signaling Pathway in Alveolar Bone Osteogenesis Induced by Aloe vera and Xenograft (XCB)

The aim of this study was to find the role of TLR2 signaling pathway in reducing osteoclast activity and promoting osteoblast growth by inducing a combination of Aloe vera and cancellous bovine xenograft (XCB) into dental extraction socket. Forty-eight Cavia cobayas were used. They were divided into eight groups (n=6). For control group, their mandibular incisors were extracted and filled with PEG. For treatment groups, they were extracted and filled with XCB, Aloe vera and the combination of Aloe vera and XCB. The first four groups were sacrificed after 7 days and the other groups after 30 days. Immunohistochemistry and histopathology examination were conducted to examine TLR2, TNFa, OPG, collagen-1, and the osteoblast and osteoclast expressions. The expressions of TLR2, OPG and Collagen-1, as well as the number of osteoblast were increased. Meanwhile, the expressions of TNFa and osteoclast were decreased. The study finding was that TLR2 signaling pathway influenced alveolar bone osteogenesis process by reducing osteoclast activity and stimulating osteoblast growth induced by the combination of Aloe vera and XCB.

Development of botanicals to combat antibiotic resistance

The discovery of antibiotics in the previous century lead to reduction in mortality and morbidity due to infectious diseases but their inappropriate and irrational use has resulted in emergence of resistant microbial populations. Alteration of target sites, active efflux of drugs and enzymatic degradations are the strategies employed by the pathogenic bacteria to develop intrinsic resistance to antibiotics. This has led to an increased interest in medicinal plants since 25-50% of current pharmaceuticals are plant derived. Crude extracts of medicinal plants could serve as an alternate source of resistance modifying agents owing to the wide variety of secondary metabolites. These metabolites (alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols etc.) could act as potentials for antimicrobials and resistance modifiers. Plant extracts have the ability to bind to protein domains leading to modification or inhibition protein-protein interactions. This enables the herbals to also present themselves as effective modulators of host related cellular processes viz immune response, mitosis, apoptosis and signal transduction. Thus they may exert their activity not only by killing the microorganism but by affecting key events in the pathogenic process, thereby, the bacteria, fungi and viruses may have a reduced ability to develop resistance to botanicals. The article is meant to stimulate research wherein the cidal activity of the extract is not the only parameter considered but other mechanism of action by which plants can combat drug resistant microbes are investigated. The present article emphasizes on mechanisms involved in countering multi drug resistance.

Aloe vera enhances the innate immune response of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) after transport stress and combined heat killed Aeromonas hydrophila infection

In this study, pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were fed with diets containing Aloe vera for 10 days prior to transport stress and infection with heat killed Aeromonas hydrophila. A. vera is popular around the world due to its medicinal properties, including immunostimulatory effects which was observed in this study. The results show that transport causes immunosuppression, an effect that was prevented by A. vera. Specifically, A. vera prevented reductions of both leukocyte respiratory burst and hemolytic activity of complement system caused by transport. Further, fish fed with A. vera also showed significantly higher leukocyte respiratory burst, serum lysozyme concentrations and activity of complement system 24 h after bacterial infection. Additionally, we observed that A. vera may modulate the innate response through activation of complement system during bacterial immune stimulation. In summary, A. vera extract enhanced innate immune parameters and consequently the ability of fish to cope with pathogens following transport stress. These findings show that A. vera has promise for use in aquaculture and add further evidence that medicinal herbs added to fish feed assist to prevent disease outbreaks.

Polysaccharides in Human Health Care

Polysaccharides are abundant natural polymers found in plants, animals and microorganisms with exceptional properties and essential roles to sustain life. They are well known for their high nutritive value and the positive effects on our immune and digestive functions and detoxification system. The knowledge and recognition of the important role they play for promoting and maintaining human health and wellbeing is continuously increasing. This review describes some important polysaccharides (e.g. mucilages and gums, glycosamine glycans and chitin/chitosan) and their medical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, with emphasis on the relationship between structure and function. Next, the use of polysaccharides as nutraceuticals and vaccines is discussed in more detail. An analysis of the trends and challenges in polysaccharide research concludes the paper.

Advances on Bioactive Polysaccharides from Medicinal Plants

In recent decades, the polysaccharides from the medicinal plants have attracted a lot of attention due to their significant bioactivities, such as anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, anticoagulant activity, antidiabetic activity, radioprotection effect, anti-viral activity, hypolipidemic and immunomodulatory activities, which make them suitable for medicinal applications. Previous studies have also shown that medicinal plant polysaccharides are non-toxic and show no side effects. Based on these encouraging observations, most researches have been focusing on the isolation and identification of polysaccharides, as well as their bioactivities. A large number of bioactive polysaccharides with different structural features and biological effects from medicinal plants have been purified and characterized. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most recent developments in physiochemical, structural features and biological activities of bioactive polysaccharides from a number of important medicinal plants, such as polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium plants, Bupleurum, Cactus fruits, Acanthopanax senticosus, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Aloe barbadensis Miller, and Dimocarpus longan Lour. Moreover, the paper has also been focused on the applications of bioactive polysaccharides for medicinal applications. Recent studies have provided evidence that polysaccharides from medicinal plants can play a vital role in bioactivities. The contents and data will serve as a useful reference material for further investigation, production, and application of these polysaccharides in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Quality attributes, phytochemical profile and storage stability studies of functional ready to serve (RTS) drink made from blend of Aloe vera, sweet lime, amla and ginger

Aloe vera based RTS formulation was prepared in this study which provides the health benefits of this wonder plant and was also appealing in terms of sensory qualities. In the present study four formulations of A. vera RTS drink with ginger, sweet lime and amla (V1, V2, V3 and V4 were developed). The developed products were subjected to physico-chemical, organoleptic and microbial analysis. The formulation V3 was found to be the most preferred variant with respect to the sensory quality. Further the blends were found to be a good source of vitamin C and other nutritional parameters. The storage stability studies carried out on the formulations showed that the physico-chemical and the sensory qualities of the RTS blends were acceptable after 60 days of storage. Microbial analysis of the RTS blends during the storage period revealed that it was free from any microbial spoilage.

Acemannan increases NF-κB/DNA binding and IL-6/-8 expression by selectively binding Toll-like receptor-5 in human gingival fibroblasts

Acemannan, an acetylated polymannose from Aloe vera, has immunomodulatory effects. We investigated whether acemannan induces IL-6 and -8 expression and NF-κB/DNA binding in human gingival fibroblasts. IL-6 and -8 expression levels were assessed via RT-PCR and ELISA. The NF-κB p50/p65-DNA binding was determined. The structures of acemannan mono-pentamers and Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) were simulated. The binding energies between acemannan and TLR5 were identified. We found that acemannan significantly stimulated IL-6/-8 expression at both the mRNA and protein level and significantly increased p50/DNA binding. Preincubation with an anti-TLR5 neutralizing antibody abolished acemannan-induced IL-6/-8 expression and p50/DNA binding, and co-incubation of acemannan with Bay11-7082, a specific NF- κB inhibitor, abolished IL-6/-8 expression. The computer modeling indicated that monomeric/dimeric single stranded acemannan molecules interacted with the TLR5 flagellin recognition sites with a high binding affinity. We conclude that acemannan induces IL-6/-8 expression, and p50/DNA binding in gingival fibroblasts, at least partly, via a TLR5/NF-κB-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, acemannan selectively binds with TLR5 ectodomain flagellin recognition sites.