Aloe Vera: A Valuable Ingredient for the Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industries—A Review

Preparation and characterization of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/cellulose nanofiber/Aloe Vera composites as a biocompatible hydrating facial mask

This study aimed to enhance the properties of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for use as biocompatible facial masks. To achieve this, nanofibers were developed by blending PVP with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and Aloe vera (AV) powder using electrospinning. The results showed that incorporating CNFs and AV into the PVP matrix led to the formation of smooth and uniform nanofibers. In particular, adding 3-6 wt% AV powder in PVP/CNF composites improved fiber diameter distribution and uniformity compared to pure PVP. The PVP/CNF/AV nanofibers exhibited desirable properties for facial mask applications. They displayed 86-93 % porosity, which allowed for efficient moisture absorption capacity of up to 1829 %, and excellent water vapor permeability rate of 3.92 g/m2h. The mechanical properties of the electrospun nanofiber composites were evaluated through tensile testing. The results showed that Young's modulus values decreased progressively with the addition of CNFs and AV powder to the PVP polymer matrix, indicating a plasticizing effect that enhances flexibility. The fracture strain remained similar across all composites, suggesting that CNFs and AV did not significantly weaken the PVP matrix. The tensile strength initially increased with CNF addition but decreased with incremental AV loading. Biocompatibility studies revealed that all nanofibers exhibited excellent fibroblast viability, surpassing 98 %. This indicates that incorporating CNFs and AV did not compromise cell viability, further highlighting the suitability of the PVP/CNF/AV composites for facial mask applications.

Aloe vera-An Extensive Review Focused on Recent Studies

Since ancient times, Aloe vera L. (AV) has attracted scientific interest because of its multiple cosmetic and medicinal properties, attributable to compounds present in leaves and other parts of the plant. The collected literature data show that AV and its products have a beneficial influence on human health, both by topical and oral use, as juice or an extract. Several scientific studies demonstrated the numerous biological activities of AV, including, for instance, antiviral, antimicrobial, antitumor, and antifungal. Moreover, its important antidepressant activity in relation to several diseases, including skin disorders (psoriasis, acne, and so on) and prediabetes, is a growing field of research. This comprehensive review intends to present the most significant and recent studies regarding the plethora of AV's biological activities and an in-depth analysis exploring the component/s responsible for them. Moreover, its morphology and chemical composition are described, along with some studies regarding the single components of AV available in commerce. Finally, valorization studies and a discussion about the metabolism and toxicological aspects of this "Wonder Plant" are reported.

Mucilage extracted from Chilean papaya seeds is enriched with homogalacturonan domains

Chilean papaya, also known as mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens), is a fruit valued for its nutritional value and pleasant fragrance. The oblong fruit, featuring five ridges and a seed-filled mucilage cavity, is typically consumed cooked due to its high protease content. The mucilage and the seeds are usually discarded as byproducts. This study analyzed the biochemical composition of mountain papaya seed mucilage using methods such as HPAEC and immunolabeling. Results revealed that papaya seeds yield nearly 20% of their weight in mucilage polysaccharides, which can be separated into soluble and adherent layers. The mucilage exhibited a high proportion of acidic sugars, indicating that homogalacturonan (HG) is the predominant domain. It also contained other domains like rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) and hemicelluloses, predominantly xyloglucan. The HG-rich mucilage, currently considered waste, emerges as a promising source of polysaccharides, indicating its multifaceted utility in various industrial applications.

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.

Coaxial nanofibers encapsulated with Ampelopsis brevipedunculata extract and green synthesized AgNPs for wound repair

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Aloe vera extract exhibited a pronounced antibacterial effect, while the Ampelopsis brevipedunculata extract (ABE) showcased a high antioxidant capacity for wound healing. Spherical AgNPs with a particle size of 28.82 nm crystallized in a face-centered-cubic lattice. AgNPs/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ABE/polycaprolactone (PCL) underwent electrospinning to produce coaxial and electrosprayed nanofibers, respectively. The developed coaxial nanofibers demonstrated a strain of 159%, a Young's modulus of elasticity of 7080.14 kPa, a 3.9-fold swelling ratio, a water contact angle of 38.91°, characteristic hydrophilicity, and an adequate water vapor transmission rate of 2272 g/m2/day. ABE exhibited no cytotoxicity to L929 cells and induced a twofold increase in the cell migration rate. Upon applying the developed coaxial nanofiber on an in vivo rat model with a 9 mm wound diameter, the wound rapidly and completely healed within 10 days, with a healing speed 60% greater than that of the control group. Histopathological analysis revealed that the coaxial group did not exhibit inflammation, showed complete epithelization, and featured a well-arranged deposition of collagen on the 10th day.

Chemical structures, biological activities, and medicinal potentials of amine compounds detected from Aloe species

Unrestricted interest in Aloe species has grown rapidly, and a lot of research is currently being done to learn more about the properties of the various Aloe constituents. Organic compounds containing amine as functional group are present in a vivid variety of compounds, namely, amino acids, hormones, neurotransmitters, DNA, alkaloids, dyes, etc. These compounds have amine functional groups that have various biological activities, which make them responsible for medicinal potential in the form of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical applications. Consequently, the present review work provides an indication of the amines investigated in Aloe species and their therapeutic uses. Various amine compounds of the Aloe species have effective biological properties to treat diseases. Generally, the genus Aloe has various active amine-containing compounds to combat diseases when humans use them in various forms.

Combined effect of ultrasound and vacuum impregnation for the modification of apple tissue enriched with aloe vera juice

The aim of the work was to investigate how ultrasonic (US) treatment impacts on the physical and chemical properties of vacuum-impregnated apples. Apple slices were subjected to vacuum impregnation (VI) in an Aloe vera juice solution without additional treatments, serving as the reference material. Alternatively, ultrasound (US) treatments, at frequencies of 25 or 45 kHz, and durations of 10, 20, or 30 min, were employed as a pre-treatments before the VI process. The use of US processing enabled a significant increase in the efficiency of VI, without influencing in a significant way the color of the VI samples. The VI process led to a reduction in the content of bioactive compounds, in particular vitamin C and TPC decreased by 34 and 32 %, respectively. The use of US as a pre-treatment, in particular at 45 kHz for 20 or 30 min, led to a better preservation of these compounds (unchanged values for vitamin C and decrease by 23-26 % for TPC in comparison to the fresh samples). Through cluster analysis encompassing all assessed properties, it was evident that US treatment was beneficial for the processing, however the application of appropriate parameters of US treatment (frequency and time) had an impact on achieving similar quality to VI samples. The ultrasound treatment before vacuum impregnation may be suitable, however, the specific processing parameters should be defined for the obtained high quality of the final product.

Dengue havoc: overview and eco-friendly strategies to forestall the current epidemic

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that affects over 100 nations around the world, including Africa, America, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. Those who get infected by virus for the second time are at greater risk of having persistent dengue symptoms. Dengue fever has yet to be treated with a long-lasting vaccination or medication. Because of their ease of use, mosquito repellents have become popular as a dengue prevention technique. However, this has resulted in environmental degradation and harm, as well as bioaccumulation and biomagnification of hazardous residues in the ecosystem. Synthetic pesticides have caused a plethora of serious problems that were not foreseen when they were originally introduced. The harm caused by the allopathic medications/synthetic pesticides/chemical mosquito repellents has paved the door to employment of eco-friendly/green approaches in order to reduce dengue cases while protecting the integrity of the nearby environment too. Since the cases of dengue have become rampant these days, hence, starting the medication obtained from green approaches as soon as the disease is detected is advisable. In the present paper, we recommend environmentally friendly dengue management strategies, which, when combined with a reasonable number of vector control approaches, may help to avoid the dengue havoc as well as help in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.

Vertex-Based Resolvability Parameters for Identification of Certain Chemical Structures

Chemical graph theory explores chemical phenomena and entities through the conceptual framework of graph theory. In chemical graph theory, molecular structures are represented by chemical graphs, where edges and vertices correspond to bonds and atoms, respectively. Chemical graphs serve as fundamental data types in cheminformatics for illustrating chemical structures. The computable properties of graphs form the basis for quantitative structure-property and structure-activity predictions, which are central to cheminformatics. These graphs capture the physical characteristics of molecules and can be further reduced to graph-theoretical indices or descriptors. One extensively studied distance-based graph descriptor is the resolving set Z, which enables the distinction of every pair of distinct vertices in a connected simple graph. Resolving sets were specifically employed in pharmaceutical research to find patterns shared by several different drugs. Since very early times, medicinal drugs have played a significant part in human civilization. In this article, we investigate minimum resolving sets for certain significant drug molecular structures, namely, suramin (S86) and acemannan (A116).

Natural and Synthetic Polymeric Biomaterials for Application in Wound Management

Biomaterials are at the forefront of the future, finding a variety of applications in the biomedical field, especially in wound healing, thanks to their biocompatible and biodegradable properties. Wounds spontaneously try to heal through a series of interconnected processes involving several initiators and mediators such as cytokines, macrophages, and fibroblasts. The combination of biopolymers with wound healing properties may provide opportunities to synthesize matrices that stimulate and trigger target cell responses crucial to the healing process. This review outlines the optimal management and care required for wound treatment with a special focus on biopolymers, drug-delivery systems, and nanotechnologies used for enhanced wound healing applications. Researchers have utilized a range of techniques to produce wound dressings, leading to products with different characteristics. Each method comes with its unique strengths and limitations, which are important to consider. The future trajectory in wound dressing advancement should prioritize economical and eco-friendly methodologies, along with improving the efficacy of constituent materials. The aim of this work is to give researchers the possibility to evaluate the proper materials for wound dressing preparation and to better understand the optimal synthesis conditions as well as the most effective bioactive molecules to load.

Anticoccidial Activity of Aloe Vera Leafs’ Aqueous Extract and vaccination Against Eimeria tenella: Pathological Study in Broilers.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3158113/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an anticoccidial vaccine and the anticoccidial activity of Aloe vera in broiler chickens infected with Eimeria tenella. A total of 225 healthy one-day-old, unsexed broiler chicks (avian48) from a commercial broiler company were randomly divided into nine experimental groups, with 25 chicks in each group. The groups included: Group 1 (control, vaccinated, non-infected), Group 2 (vaccinated and infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts), Group 3 (vaccinated, infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts, and treated with Aloe vera), Group 4 (infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and treated with Aloe vera), Group 5 (positive control, infected with 5×104 sporulated oocysts), Group 6 (challenged with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and then treated with amprolium), Group 7 (treated with amprolium), Group 8 (blank control negative group), and Group 9 (treated with Aloe vera gel). Various parameters including clinical signs, growth performance, oocyst shedding, hematological and immunological parameters, and pathological lesion scoring were evaluated. The results showed that Aloe vera improved growth performance, reduced oocyst shedding, and decreased caecal lesion scores in broiler chicks infected with Eimeria tenella. The use of Aloe vera in combination with either amprolium or anticoccidial vaccines provided a potential solution to the issues of drug resistance and drug residues. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the control of coccidiosis in broilers. Supplementing the chicken diet with Aloe vera had beneficial effects on the pathogenicity and infectivity of Eimeria tenella, making it a cost-effective alternative as an herbal extract with no adverse side effects for coccidiosis control. These findings suggest that Aloe vera can be considered as a potential candidate for inclusion in broiler diets to effectively control coccidiosis.

Efficacy of Green Synthesized Nanoparticles in Photodynamic Therapy: A Therapeutic Approach

Cancer is a complex and diverse disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. It poses a significant global public health challenge and remains a leading cause of death. The rise in cancer cases and deaths is a significant worry, emphasizing the immediate need for increased awareness, prevention, and treatment measures. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a potential treatment for various types of cancer, including skin, lung, bladder, and oesophageal cancer. A key advantage of PDT is its ability to selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This is achieved by preferentially accumulating photosensitizing agents (PS) in cancer cells and precisely directing light activation to the tumour site. Consequently, PDT reduces the risk of harming surrounding healthy cells, which is a common drawback of conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes has a long history dating back thousands of years and continues to be an integral part of healthcare in many cultures worldwide. Plant extracts and phytochemicals have demonstrated the ability to enhance the effectiveness of PDT by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoting apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. This natural approach capitalizes on the eco-friendly nature of plant-based photoactive compounds, offering valuable insights for future research. Nanotechnology has also played a pivotal role in medical advancements, particularly in the development of targeted drug delivery systems. Therefore, this review explores the potential of utilizing photosensitizing phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants as a viable source for PDT in the treatment of cancer. The integration of green photodynamic therapy with plant-based compounds holds promise for novel treatment alternatives for various chronic illnesses. By harnessing the scientific potential of plant-based compounds for PDT, we can pave the way for innovative and sustainable treatment strategies.

A New Functional Food Ingredient Obtained from Aloe ferox by Spray Drying

Aloe mucilages of Aloe ferox (A. ferox) and Aloe vera (A. vera) were spray-dried (SD) at 150, 160 and 170 °C. Polysaccharide composition, total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant capacity and functional properties (FP) were determined. A. ferox polysaccharides were comprised mainly of mannose, accounting for >70% of SD aloe mucilages; similar results were observed for A. vera. Further, an acetylated mannan with a degree of acetylation >90% was detected in A. ferox by ¹H NMR and FTIR. SD increased the TPC as well as the antioxidant capacity of A. ferox measured by both ABTS and DPPH methods, in particular by ~30%, ~28% and ~35%, respectively, whereas in A. vera, the antioxidant capacity measured by ABTS was reduced (>20%) as a consequence of SD. Further, FP, such as swelling, increased around 25% when A. ferox was spray-dried at 160 °C, while water retention and fat adsorption capacities exhibited lower values when the drying temperature increased. The occurrence of an acetylated mannan with a high degree of acetylation, together with the enhanced antioxidant capacity, suggests that SD A. ferox could be a valuable alternative raw material for the development of new functional food ingredients based on Aloe plants.

Pharmaceutical based cosmetic serums

The growth and demand for cosmeceuticals (cosmetic products that have medicinal or drug-like benefits) have been enhanced for the last few decades. Lately, the newly invented dosage form, i.e., the pharmaceutical-based cosmetic serum has been developed and widely employed in various non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Many pharmaceutical-based cosmetic serums contain natural active components that claim to have a medical or drug-like effect on the skin, hair, and nails, including anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti-acne, hydrating, moisturizing, repairing, brightening and lightening skin, anti-hair fall, anti-fungal, and nail growth effect, etc. In comparison with other pharmaceutical-related cosmetic products (creams, gels, foams, and lotions, etc.), pharmaceutical-based cosmetic serums produce more rapid and incredible effects on the skin. This chapter provides detailed knowledge about the different marketed pharmaceutical-based cosmetic serums and their several types such as facial serums, hair serums, nail serums, under the eye serum, lip serum, hand, and foot serum, respectively. Moreover, some valuable procedures have also been discussed which provide prolong effects with desired results in the minimum duration of time after the few sessions of the serum treatment.

Aloe vera: A Sustainable Green Alternative to Exclude Antibiotics in Modern Poultry Production

Over the past 50 years, there has been a rapid increase in the need for poultry meat on a global scale to meet the rising demand from health, ecology, safety and equity. However, there has been a significant rise in recent years in both public demand and scientific interest for organic poultry farming, particularly when using medicinal herbs due to the rising concern of antibiotic resistance in end users. Ban on the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry has resulted in the demand of herbs as alternatives to antibiotics. Various research efforts have illustrated the nutritional value of Aloe vera in improving growth performance and immune status and acting as an antibacterial and anticoccidial agent in poultry. Aloe vera has been used as a supplement in the form of gel, alcoholic extract, powder, polysaccharide and aqueous extract. Aloe vera contains more than 200 nutrients, bioactive compounds, polysaccharides and saponins. In the current review, we have detailed the effect of Aloe vera as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities and blood biochemical alternations in poultry.

Physicochemical, Morphological, and Functional Characterization of Edible Anthocyanin-Enriched Aloevera Coatings on Fresh Figs (Ficus carica L.)

In the present investigation, Aloe vera gel (AVG)-based edible coatings enriched with anthocyanin were prepared. We investigated the effect of different formulations of aloe-vera-based edible coatings, such as neat AVG (T1), AVG with glycerol (T2), Aloe vera with 0.2% anthocyanin + glycerol (T3), and AVG with 0.5% anthocyanin + glycerol (T4), on the postharvest quality of fig (Ficus carica L.) fruits under refrigerated conditions (4 °C) for up to 12 days of storage with 2-day examination intervals. The results of the present study revealed that the T4 treatment was the most effective for reducing the weight loss in fig fruits throughout the storage period (~4%), followed by T3, T2, and T1. The minimum weight loss after 12 days of storage (3.76%) was recorded for the T4 treatment, followed by T3 (4.34%), which was significantly higher than that of uncoated fruit (~11%). The best quality attributes, such as the total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and pH, were also demonstrated by the T3 and T4 treatments. The T4 coating caused a marginal change of 0.16 in the fruit titratable acidity, compared to the change of 0.33 in the untreated fruit control after 12 days of storage at 4 °C. Similarly, the total soluble solids in the T4-coated fruits increased marginally (0.43 °Brix) compared to the uncoated control fruits (>2 °Brix) after 12 days of storage at 4 °C. The results revealed that the incorporation of anthocyanin content into AVG is a promising technology for the development of active edible coatings to extend the shelf life of fig fruits.

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.

Aloe vera protects against fluoride-induced teratogenic effects during pre- and postnatal development in mice

Pregnancy and feto-gestational toxicities on exposure to fluoride and its possible amelioration on co-administration with aloe vera were studied in pregnant Swiss albino mice. Once the confirmed pregnancy was tested, animals were equally divided into four groups as follows: group I was given no treatment and served as control, and groups II and III were administered with 100 and 300 ppm sodium fluoride, respectively, while group IV was co- administered aloe vera (300 mg/kg bw) along with sodium fluoride (300 ppm) daily for 14 days prior to gestation and continued till the 18th day of gestation. Animals were sacrificed on the 19th day of gestation for prenatal observations. Maternal body weight, the gravid uterine weight, number of corpora lutea in both the ovaries, number of implantations and resorptions, number of live (mature and immature) fetuses, and number of dead fetuses were examined in each dam. The treatment continued in another set of animals till the completion of the weaning period to observe postnatal changes due to test substances on the mother and pups. Sodium fluoride-treated animals showed morphometric and skeletal changes which were more pronounced in the high-dose group showing significantly decreased body weight gain in pregnant mothers and dead/immature fetuses. Morphometric changes included open eyelids, limb defects, wrinkles on the whole body, anophthalmia, pulmonary edema, enlarged esophagus, and decreased body weight of fetuses and pups. Alizarin-prepared skeletal structures of fetuses of such female mice showed delayed ossification or bending in the number of bones of skull, thoracic, and limb regions. However, concomitant exposure to sodium fluoride and aloe vera in treated animals led to a marked improvement in all the prenatal and postnatal variables. The study suggests that sodium fluoride at high concentrations may be teratogenic while co-administration of aloe vera during fluoride exposure might be beneficial in reducing these toxic effects. The use of aloe vera as a preventive agent or as a complimentary agent is thus recommended following fluoride exposure through the oral route.

Photoactive Herbal Compounds: A Green Approach to Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive, alternative, and promising treatment for various diseases, including cancer, actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease, macular degeneration, and atherosclerotic plaques. PDT involves three different components, photosensitizers (PS), molecular oxygen, and light. The photoactivation of administered PSs using a specific wavelength of light in the presence of molecular oxygen leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species that leads to tumour cell death. Photosensitizing potentials of many commercially available compounds have been reported earlier. However, the possibilities of PDT using herbal medicines, which contain many photosensitizing phytochemicals, are not much explored. Medicinal plants with complex phytochemical compound mixtures have the benefit over single compounds or molecules in the treatment of many diseases with the benefit of low or reduced toxic side effects. This review emphasizes the role of various herbal medicines either alone or in combination to enhance the therapeutic outcome of photodynamic therapy.

Cosmeceuticals: A Newly Expanding Industry in South Africa

Africa is counted amongst the cosmetic market contributors; however, South Africa’s remarkable plant diversity is still largely untapped in terms of its potential for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Thus, we aim to provide a critical assessment of the advancements made in South African cosmeceuticals with emphasis towards online local companies/brands that are manufactured by small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). For the current study, we limited our search of herbal cosmeceutical products to SMMEs with online websites, or products traded in other online cosmetic directories such as ‘Faithful to Nature’ and ‘African Botanicals’ using a simple Google search. We recorded more than 50 South African SMME companies/brands involved in the trade of cosmeceuticals. Skin and hair care were the major product categories widely traded in these online platforms. Furthermore, few patents were recorded from South African researchers and institutions thereof, which is quite alarming considering the extensive research that has been undertaken to study these commercially valuable plants. Based on the increasing number of new products and the wide pool of economically important plants coupled to their associated rich indigenous knowledge systems, the cosmeceutical sector can contribute to the economy, job creation, entrepreneurship skills, socio-economic development and intellectual property generation.

The Role of Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Over the past few decades, interest in medicinal plants and phytochemicals for the treatment of skin disorders, including acne vulgaris, has progressively increased. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, which mainly occurs in adolescents and young adults. The treatment focuses on the four main factors involved in its pathogenesis: increased sebum production, hyperkeratinization, overgrowth of Cutibacterium acnes, and inflammation. The treatment includes topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, and oral isotretinoin. In this regard, the use of herbal medicine as a complementary and alternative medicine is a promising strategy. The main objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of medicinal plants and phytochemicals in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Three scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched from inception to January 2021. Clinical trials comparing herbal therapies with placebo or other medicines for the treatment of acne vulgaris were included and analyzed. Outcome measures of interest comprised acne lesions (inflammatory and noninflammatory), sebum production, acne severity, and quality of life. The risk of bias in the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. A total of 34 clinical trials involving 1753 participants met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Most trials showed that herbal medicine significantly reduces inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions and has a relevant effect on acne severity. Some medicinal plants revealed equal or higher efficacy to standard treatments. No significant difference between groups in sebum production and quality of life was observed and no severe adverse events were reported. This systematic review provides evidence that medicinal plants and phytochemicals are promising treatments for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. However, more quality of evidence and standardized methodologies are needed to support their effectiveness and safety claims.

Novel potential NOX2 inhibitors, Dudleya brittonii water extract and polygalatenoside A inhibit intracellular ROS generation and growth of melanoma

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key regulators of the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of melanoma, which accounts for 60% of skin cancer deaths. In a previous study, we developed Dudleya brittonii water extract (DBWE) with antioxidant activity, but the mechanism of action and bioactive substances of DBWE have not been fully identified. This study showed altered NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression and selective inhibition of cytosolic ROS but not mitochondrial ROS in B16-F10 melanoma cells, suggesting the NOX2 inhibitory potential of DBWE. In addition, DBWE inhibited mitochondrial activity, lipid metabolism, and cell cycle in B16-F10 cells. The anti-melanoma effect of DBWE was abrogated by the addition of ROS, and there was no significant change in the melanogenesis pathway. Polygalatenoside A was identified as a candidate bioactive substance in the DBWE aqueous fraction through mass spectrometry, and the DBWE-like anti-melanoma effect was confirmed. These data suggest that DBWE and polygalatenoside A have the potential to prevent and treat melanoma.

Temperature and pH Stability of Anthraquinones from Native Aloe vera Gel, Spray-Dried and Freeze-Dried Aloe vera Powders during Storage

The present study explored the stability of extracted anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin and rhein) from whole-leaf Aloe vera gel (WLAG), its freeze-dried powder (FDP) and spray-dried powder (SDP) under varying pH and temperature conditions during storage. Each anthraquinone behaved differently under different processing parameters. The amount of anthraquinones present in the gel was higher than in FDP and SDP. The aloin contents decreased by more than 50% at 50 °C and 70 °C, while at 25 °C and 4 °C, the decrease was moderate. A substantial reduction in aloin concentration was noticed at pH 6.7, whereas it remained unaffected at pH 3.5. The temperature and pH had no significant effect on the stability of aloe-emodin. Interestingly, a small quantity of rhein was detected during storage due to the oxidative degradation of aloin into aloe-emodin and rhein. These findings can provide significant insight into retaining anthraquinones during processing while developing functional foods and nutraceuticals to obtain maximum health benefits.

Valorization of Aloe vera Skin By-Products to Obtain Bioactive Compounds by Microwave-Assisted Extraction: Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition

Aloe vera skin (AVS) is a major by-product of Aloe processing plants all over the world. In this study, response surface methodology was used to optimize microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of bioactive compounds from AVS. The influence of extraction parameters, such as ethanol concentration (%Et), extraction temperature (T), time (t) and solvent volume (V), on extraction yield (Y), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP methods) and aloin content, was studied. Optimum extraction conditions were determined as 80% ethanol, 80 °C, 36.6 min and 50 mL and optimized extracts showed interesting contents of polyphenols and antioxidant performance. The phenolic profile was determined by HPLC-DAD/MS and some major phenolic compounds, such as aloin A, aloin B, aloesin, aloe-emodin, aloeresin D, orientin, cinnamic acid and chlorogenic acid, were quantified while eight other compounds were tentatively identified. Moreover, structural and thermal properties were studied by FTIR and TGA analyses, respectively. The obtained results suggested the potential of AVS as a promising source of bioactive compounds, thus increasing the added value of this agricultural waste.

Antibiotics-Free Compounds for Chronic Wound Healing

The rapid rise in the health burden associated with chronic wounds is of great concern to policymakers, academia, and industry. This could be attributed to the devastating implications of this condition, and specifically, chronic wounds which have been linked to invasive microbial infections affecting patients' quality of life. Unfortunately, antibiotics are not always helpful due to their poor penetration of bacterial biofilms and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore antibiotics-free compounds/formulations with proven or potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing efficacy. The mechanism of antibiotics-free compounds is thought to include the disruption of the bacteria cell structure, preventing cell division, membrane porins, motility, and the formation of a biofilm. Furthermore, some of these compounds foster tissue regeneration by modulating growth factor expression. In this review article, the focus is placed on a number of non-antibiotic compounds possessing some of the aforementioned pharmacological and physiological activities. Specific interest is given to Aloevera, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, polyhexanide, retinoids, ascorbate, tocochromanols, and chitosan. These compounds (when alone or in formulation with other biologically active molecules) could be a dependable alternative in the management or prevention of chronic wounds.

Aloe arborescens: In Vitro Screening of Genotoxicity, Effective Inhibition of Enzyme Characteristics for Disease Etiology, and Microbiological Activity

The present study assessed the genotoxicity, the possibility of inhibiting selected enzymes, and the microbial activity of lyophilisate from 3-year-old A. arborescens leaves obtained from controlled crops. The lyophilisate from 3-year-old A. arborescens leaves was standardized for aloin A and aloenin A content. Moreover, concentrations of polyphenolic compounds and phenolic acids were determined. The first stage of the research was to determine genotoxicity using the comet test, which confirmed the safety of A. arborescens. Assays of enzymatic inhibition were performed for hyaluronidase (IC50 = 713.24 ± 41.79 µg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 598.35 ± 12.58 µg/mL), acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (1.16 vs. 0.34 µM of eserine/g d.m., respectively). The next stage of the research was to determine the ability of the healing properties using the scratch test, which showed a positive response using the extract. Microbial activity was evaluated and obtained against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts. We concluded that A. arborescens leaf gel meets the important conditions for plant raw materials to obtain semi-solid forms of herbal medicinal products.

Aloe vera and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is defined as prolonged hyperglycemia, which can harm the eyes, kidneys, and cardiovascular and neurological systems. Herbal agents and their derived supplements have been used for treatment of diabetes mellitus as a part of integrated complementary medicine for centuries. Numerous studies have considered Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f, Xanthorrhoeaceae, as an alternative medicine due to its abundant bioactive chemicals, such as alkaloids, anthraquinones, and enthrones, with therapeutical properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, and anti-diabetic effects. Aloe vera has received considerable attention in traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases including diabetes mellitus. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of herbal agents on diabetes mellitus using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. Thereby, this article reviews the effects of Aloe vera prescription on streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus to provide a clear insight into the role of this medicinal plant in several biological functions, such as antioxidant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic in diabetic models.

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".

The Histopathological Effect of Aloe Vera on the Wound Healing Process in a Surgically Created Tubularized Incised Plate Urethroplasty Model on Rats

BACKGROUND

Hypospadias is a common congenital anomaly which is determined as an abnormal urethral opening on the ventral face of penis. The purpose of this rat model study was to research the effect of topically applied Aloe vera after a tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU).

METHODS

The TIPU model was applied to male Wistar albino rats. A total of 30 rats were randomly grouped into 3 groups of 10. Group I was assigned as the control group, treated with 0.9% saline only twice a day for 15 days. Group II received topical Aloe vera gel once a day and Group III received Aloe vera gel twice a day. Spongiofibrosis was graded as 0: none, 1+:≤10% tissues involved, 2+:10%-49% tissues involved, 3+: ≥ 50% tissues involved.

RESULTS

A higher degree of fibrosis and inflammation was determined in the Group I subjects than in Groups II and III. Fibrosis of grade 3+ was observed in 33% of the control group and not in any of the two Aloe groups (p = 0.043). Inflammation of grade 3+ was seen in 66.7% of the control group, in 10% of Group II, and in 33% of Group III (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The topical application of Aloe vera to a surgically created tubularized incised plate urethroplasty model decreased inflammation and fibrosis that may affect the success rates of this operation.

Nutrient uptake and pharmaceutical compounds of Aloe vera as influenced by integration of inorganic fertilizer and poultry manure in soil

Aloe vera had been used for numerous medical and cosmetic applications since ancient times. The study aimed to investigate the integrated effects of inorganic fertilizer (IF) and poultry manure (PM) on the nutritional and pharmaceutical constituents of A. vera. Eighteen month old A. vera seedlings were used following completely randomized design with three replications. Six combinations of IF [Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) at the rate of 150, 80, 120 and 30 kg ha-1, respectively] and PM (at the rate of 5 t ha-1) were considered viz., IF00PM00 (IF = 0%, PM = 0%), IF100PM00(IF = 100%, PM = 0%), IF75PM25 (IF = 75%, PM = 25%), IF50PM50 (IF = 50%, PM = 50%), IF25PM75 (IF = 25%, PM = 75%) and IF00PM100 (IF = 0%, PM = 100%) as treatments. Different treatment combinations of IF and PM exerted significant influence on the nutritional and pharmaceutical contents of A. vera. Concentrations and uptake of the concerned nutrients were gradually increased with the increased levels of PM except NPKS which were highest in sole application of IF. The aloin concentration of leaf was gradually increased with the increased level of PM and by 42.44% over control. The highest chlorophyll, total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations were found in the plants receiving the treatment IF25PM75 except protein content which was obtained from IF100PM00. Significant and positive relationships between N and S with P concentrations and P and S with K concentrations of A. vera leaf were noticed. Aloin, total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations of A. vera leaf. Farmers may be advised to cultivate A. vera applying 75% PM at the rate of 5 t ha-1 along with 25% IF (N, P, K and S at the rate of 150, 80, 120 and 30 kg ha-1, respectively) for obtaining better quality leaf in terms of nutrients and pharmaceutical compounds under the agro-climatic conditions of the study area.

Polymer-Based Scaffolds Loaded with Aloe vera Extract for the Treatment of Wounds

The treatment of wounds is one challenging biomedical field due to delayed wound healing common in chronic wounds. Several factors delay wound healing, including microbial infections, malnutrition, underlying physiological conditions, etc. Most of the currently used wound dressing materials suffer from poor antimicrobial properties, poor biodegradability and biocompatibility, and weak mechanical performance. Plant extracts, such as Aloe vera, have attracted significant attention in wound management because of their interesting biological properties. Aloe vera is composed of essential constituents beneficial for the wound healing process, such as amino acids, vitamins C and E, and zinc. Aloe vera influences numerous factors that are involved in wound healing and stimulates accelerated healing. This review reports the therapeutic outcomes of aloe vera extract-loaded polymer-based scaffolds in wound management.

Aloe djiboutiensis: Antioxidant Activity, Molecular Networking-Based Approach and In Vivo Toxicity of This Endemic Species in Djibouti

For the first time, the study of the antioxidant activity, the characterization of the phytoconstituants, and the evaluation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of A. djiboutiensis leave and latex are performed. The antioxidant activity of both latex (ADL) and the methanolic extract of leaves (ADM) is determined using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging radical methods and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The phytochemical study of latex is done using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a molecular networking-based approach. The evaluation of in vivo toxicity is performed on mice by oral gavage with a suspension of ADL. Our results show that weak antioxidant activity of ADL and ADM in opposition to their high polyphenol, 83.01 mg and 46.4 mg expressed in gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of dry weight (DW), respectively, and flavonoid contents 13.12 mg and 4.25 mg expressed in quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight (DW), respectively. Using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) website, nine (9) anthraquinones derivatives, ten (10) chromones derivatives, two (2) flavonols/ chromones isomers are annotated in the molecular network. The treated mice do not display abnormalities in their general physical appearance and biochemistry parameters, compared to the controls. Only glucose and calcium levels are slightly higher in male treated mice compared to the vehicles.

Protective effects of aloe vera gel (aloe baberdensis Miller) on aluminum chloride-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at investigating the protective effects of aloe vera gel on aluminum chloride-induced testicular toxicity of adult Wistar rats.

METHODS

Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D) with five animals per group. Group A serves as the control group and received distilled water (1ml/Kg). Group B received distilled water (1ml/Kg) with 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride daily. Group C received 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride with 600mg/kg b.wt of Aloe vera gel daily. Group D received 100mg/kg b.wt of aluminum chloride with 5mg/kg b.wt of vitamin C daily. The animals were fed on standard laboratory animal diet and water ad libitum. Administration was via oral cannula for four weeks. The rats were slaughtered using cervical dislocation. The testes were harvested for seminal, biochemical and histological analysis.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that the administration of aloe vera gel (AVG) is capable of preventing testicular toxicity due to aluminum chloride. Aluminum chloride caused a significant change in the testes and seminal parameters of group B when compared to the control animals. The level of Nitric oxide (NO) increased and the level of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased significantly in rats treated with aluminum chloride.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of aloe vera gel showed a preventive response in aluminum-induced testicular toxicity of rats as evidenced by histological and biochemical analysis.

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.

Safety evaluation of Aloe vera soft capsule in acute, subacute toxicity and genotoxicity study

Aloe vera has been widely used in health and nutritional supplements in Chinese herbal medicine. Furthermore, Aloe vera production has been an emerging industry for making cosmetics and functional food. However, the reported adverse effects raised questions as to whether Aloe vera and its products were safe enough to be used in medicine and health care. In view of this, the safety evaluation of Aloe vera products before marketing is very important. The present study aimed to assess the toxicological profile of Aloe vera soft capsule (ASC), through acute, subacute toxicity and genotoxicity tests. Male and female ICR mice were received by oral gavage 15000 mg/kg bodyweight of ASC in the acute toxicity test. Male and female SD rats were fed on diet blended with different doses of ASC (equivalent to 832.5, 1665 and 3330 mg/kg bodyweight of ASC) for the subacute toxicity test. In the acute toxicity study, no mortality or behavioral changes were observed, indicating the LD50 was higher than 15000 mg/kg bodyweight. In the subacute toxicity test, no significant changes were observed in bodyweight, food consumption, hematological, biochemical or histopathological parameters in the rats exposed. These data suggested that ASC used in this study did not produce any marked subacute toxic effects up to a maximum concentration of 3330 mg/kg bodyweight. In the genotoxicity study, ASC showed no mutagenic activity in the Ames test and no evidence of potential to induce bone marrow micronucleus or testicular chromosome aberrations in ICR mice exposed to 10000 mg/kg bodyweight. Collectively, ASC could be considered safe before it was marketed as a laxative and moistening health food.

Absence of genotoxicity of purified Aloe vera whole leaf dry juice as assessed by an in vitro mouse lymphoma tk assay and an in vivo comet assay in male F344 rats

Hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HAD) are naturally present in the latex layer of Aloe vera leaf, predominantly as aloins A, B and aloe-emodin. HAD are typically removed from commercial ingestible aloe products through activated charcoal filtration (decolorization). Current research aimed to evaluate genotoxic potential of a purified aloe whole leaf dry juice containing 0.3 ppm of total aloins and non-detectable aloe-emodin (LOD =0.01 ppm) in the L5178Y mouse lymphoma assay (MLA; OECD 490) and in vivo comet assay (OECD 489). No marked increases in mutant frequency at the tk locus were observed in the MLA at concentrations up to 5000 μg/mL for 3 h and 24 h (-S9), and up to a precipitating concentration of 3000 μg/mL for 3 h (+S9) compared to concurrent vehicle control. Relative total growth at the highest analyzable concentrations at 3 h (±S9) and 24 h (-S9) ranged from 64 to 133 %. In the comet assay, no statistically significant increases in DNA strand breaks were detected in the colon or kidney following oral gavage of 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg/day in male F344 rats for 2 days compared to concurrent vehicle control. Overall, these findings demonstrated the test article containing minimal HAD is not genotoxic under the described experimental conditions.

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.

Potential of Aloe vera gel coating for storage life extension and quality conservation of fruits and vegetables: An overview

Aloe vera (ALV) with its unique nutritional profile is being used for food, health, and nutraceutical industries globally. Due to its organic nature, ALV gel coating has created lot of interest for exploring its potential in extending the shelf and storage life of fresh produce. ALV gel coating plays imperative role in delaying fruit ripening by lowering ethylene biosynthesis, respiration rate, and internal metabolic activities associated with fruit softening, color development, enzymatic browning, and decay. ALV gel coating reduces the microbial spoilage due to its antifungal properties and maintains visual appearance, firmness, sugar: acid ratio, total antioxidants, and phenolic contents with conserved eating quality. ALV coated fruits and vegetables showed reduced weight loss, superoxide ion ( O 2 - ∙ ), hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ), ion leakage, and soluble solids content and exhibited higher acidity, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. It also delayed the enzymatic browning by inducing peroxidase (POD) activity during storage. Recent local studies also revealed that ALV gel coating markedly conserved higher consuming quality and extended storage period (>1.34-fold) of different fruits and vegetables. Overall, Aloe vera gel coating alone or in combination with other organic compounds has shown great potential as a food-safe and eco-friendly coating for maintaining the quality of fruits and vegetables over extended period and reducing postharvest losses in the supply chain. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: ALV gel is a plant-based natural coating of eco-friendly nature. The present review summarizes the updated information of ALV gel coating application, methods of extraction, combinations with other postharvest coatings, and its impact on quality of various fruits and vegetables. It also provides future insights for the development of commercially applicable ALV gel coating protocols through simulation studies. So, being a natural coating, ALV gel has tremendous potential to be used in fruit and vegetable industries around the globe.