Lack of in vivo genotoxic effect of dried whole Aloe ferox juice

Scientific Opinion on additional scientific data related to the safety of preparations of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum officinale Baill. and their hybrids, Rhamnus purshiana DC., Rhamnus frangula L. and Cassia senna L., submitted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006

The Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety of plant preparations from the root or rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum officinale Baill. and their hybrids, from the bark of Rhamnus frangula L. and Rhamnus purshiana DC. and from the leaf or fruit of Cassia senna L., which have been placed under Union scrutiny in Part C of Annex III in accordance with Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The NDA Panel reviewed the additional scientific data submitted during the period of scrutiny and the public consultation by interested parties. The pertinent scientific data were in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies on the plant preparations under consideration. All the results of the genotoxicity studies on plant preparations were negative. However, the plant preparations that were tested in the submitted studies were not sufficiently characterised with respect to the content of total and individual hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) and components other than HADs. The studies confirmed the presence of ■■■■■, known to be genotoxic in vivo, and ■■■■■, shown to be genotoxic in vitro. In line with the EFSA Scientific Committee statement on genotoxicity assessment of chemical mixtures, considering the presence of an in vivo genotoxic compound, the plant preparations used in these studies have to be considered of concern for genotoxicity. Thus, the safety of preparations containing HADs from the root or rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., Rheum officinale Baill. and their hybrids, from the leaf or fruit of Cassia senna L. and from the bark of Rhamnus frangula L. and Rhamnus purshiana DC. cannot be established based on the submitted studies.

The absence of genotoxicity of Aloe vera beverages: A review of the literature

Aloe has a long history of topical and systemic use with testimonials of countless health benefits and is one of the most popular botanical medicines in the world for the management of a wide variety both of benign and serious ailments including irritable bowel syndromes, osteoarthritis, Type II diabetes mellitus, and viral respiratory illness. The human consumption of Aloe vera extract in beverage form has substantially grown over the last several decades, in no small part, due to the increased consumer interest in alternative approaches to health benefits. The principal aim of the present paper is to characterize the research to date that has explored the genotoxic potential of Aloe vera inner leaf gel extract and decolorized whole leaf extract used in commercially available food-grade drinkable products which contain no more than 10 ppm aloin. Despite prevailing public health opinion, especially in Europe, the consensus of the reviewed studies retrieved from the peer-reviewed literature together with a mutagenic evaluation of an Aloe vera whole leaf decolorized spray-dried powder is that these products are not genotoxic.

[Experimental Study of Using Aloe Vera Gel to Treat Diabetic Chronic Cutaneous Ulcers in Bama Miniature Pigs]

Objective

To investigate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of topical application of aloe vera gel (AVG) to treat diabetic chronic cutaneous ulcers in Bama miniature pigs.

Methods

The Bama miniature pig model of diabetic chronic skin wounds was constructed and the model pigs were randomly assigned to AVG daily administration group (AVG QD), aloe vera gel every-other-day administration group (AVG QOD), and diabetic control group (DC). A non-diabetic chronic skin wounds model pig was set as the non-diabetic control group (NDC). Treatment efficacy was evaluated based on the amount of time needed for complete healing of the wounds, healing rates, granulation growth rates, and skin histopathological changes. Safety was evaluated according to whether adverse reactions were observed. In addition, the dynamic changes of the relative expression levels of miR21, miR29a, miR126, miR146a, miR155, and miR210 in wound granulation tissues were examined.

Results

1) Efficacy and safety: The amount of time needed for complete healing of the wounds was shorter in the NDC group than those of the three other groups, DC group, AVG QD group, and AVG QOD group (all P<0.05). The amount of time needed for complete healing of the wounds was shorter in the AVG QD group and AVG QOD group than that of DC group (all P<0.05). The amount of time needed for complete healing of the wounds was shorter in the AVG QOD group than that of AVG QD group (all P<0.05). No adverse reactions were detected in the whole process of AVG topical treatment. The granulation growth rate of NDC group was higher than those of DC group, AVG QD group, and AVG QOD group (all P<0.05). The wound healing rate of NDC group was higher than those of DC group, AVG QD group, and AVG QOD group (all P<0.05); the wound healing rate of AVG QOD group was higher than those of DC group and AVG QD group (all P<0.05). 2) Histopathology: The results of HE staining light microscopy showed that collagen fiber production increased, and that microvascular formation with slight inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the dermal interstitium at the initial stage of wound healing after AVG treatment. One year of after complete healing, pathological examination results of wound healing skin showed that the epidermal keratinization was complete, that collagen was arranged neatly and orderly, and that many microvessels were found in the interstitium. The results of picric acid celestite scarlet staining showed that, after AVG treatment, type Ⅰ collagen mainly increased in the initial stage of wound healing, type Ⅲ collagen gradually increased when the wound healed completely, and the collagen was arranged neatly during the whole process. 3) The relative expression of microRNAs: The relative expression of miR21, miR126, and miR210 in NDC group, AVG QD group, and AVG QOD group were higher than that in DC group (all P<0.05). The relative expression of miR29a and miR155 in NDC group, AVG QD group, and AVG QOD group was lower than that in DC group (all P<0.05). The relative expression of miR146a in NDC group was higher than that in DC group ( P<0.05).

Conclusion

AVG topical application can shorten the time needed for complete healing of diabetic chronic wounds in Bama minipigs. The wound healing speed of the alternate-day treatment group was faster than that of the daily treatment group. No adverse reactions were observed over the course of the treatment. The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of the expressions of miR21, miR126, and miR210 and the down-regulation of miR29a and miR155 in wound granulation tissue.