1
|
Hayes AW, Pressman P, Clemens R, Singer AW, Bauter MR. Evaluation of 90-day repeated dose oral toxicity of an aloe vera inner leaf gel beverage. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 189:114726. [PMID: 38759713 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Despite its popularity along with many proposed therapeutic applications, the safety profile of Aloe vera gel beverages remains unsettled. The putative toxicology concern has focused on the hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives (HADs) found in the latex portion of the Aloe leaf. Despite harvesting and processing designed to eliminate or significantly reduce these compounds, certain HADs, such as aloin, may be present and have been associated with carcinogenicity in non-decolorized whole leaf extract containing approximately 6400 ppm aloin A and 71 ppm aloin-emodin. Sprague Dawley rats had free access to drinking water or a commercially and widely available Aloe vera gel beverage (Forever Living Products) prepared from the inner leaves of Aloe barbadensis Miller containing 3.43 ppm total aloin for 90 days. Under the conditions of the study and based on the toxicological endpoints evaluated, there were no adverse test substance-related findings, including altered thyroid hormones. No histologic differences or histopathological changes were detected in the multiple tissues and organs examined. The Ki-67 proliferation assay demonstrated no increased cell proliferation in the liver, lungs, kidneys, or urinary bladder, which might have been attributed to the dietary administration of the Aloe vera gel beverage via drinking water for 90 days. These data lend increasing confidence regarding the safety of appropriately processed Aloe vera gel beverages, such as the beverage tested in this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Wallace Hayes
- University of South Florida, Tampa, FL and Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | | | - Roger Clemens
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Mark R Bauter
- Product Safety Labs, 2394 US Highway 130, Dayton, NJ, 08810, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Talpos Niculescu S, Avramut R, Hajaj T, Nikolajevic-Stoican N, Maracineanu R, Perdiou A, Talpos Niculescu R, Pricop M, Ghircau-Radu R, Luca MM, Popa M. Evaluating the Therapeutic Properties of Natural Products in Orthodontic and Surgical Treatment of Dentofacial Deformities: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. Nutrients 2024; 16:1941. [PMID: 38931295 PMCID: PMC11206340 DOI: 10.3390/nu16121941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of natural products as alternatives to traditional pharmacological treatments in orthodontics is gaining interest due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of natural products in reducing inflammation and bacterial presence in orthodontic and orthognathic treatment settings. The database search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to January 2024. The review focused on randomized controlled trials only. The selected studies centered on the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects of natural products, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for data extraction. Nine studies, totaling 358 participants, were included. Significant findings demonstrated a reduction in gingival inflammation by over 40% with the use of Aloe vera compared to chlorhexidine. Another study noted a decrease in bleeding on probing by 13.6 points in the treatment group over placebo. Additionally, honey showed a rapid modulation of plaque pH and significantly reduced bacterial counts of Streptococcus mutans. Furthermore, the use of resveratrol emulgel was linked to substantial improvements in gingival health, with a reduction in the gingival index and probing pocket depth. The results indicate that natural products can significantly enhance orthodontic treatment outcomes by reducing inflammation and bacterial levels. These products offer effective alternatives to traditional treatments and show potential for integration into routine orthodontic care protocols. Further research is encouraged to standardize application methods and dosages to maximize clinical benefits and patient satisfaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serban Talpos Niculescu
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Robert Avramut
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.A.); (N.N.-S.); (R.M.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Tareq Hajaj
- Discipline of Prostheses Technology and Dental Materials, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Nicoleta Nikolajevic-Stoican
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.A.); (N.N.-S.); (R.M.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Raluca Maracineanu
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.A.); (N.N.-S.); (R.M.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Antonis Perdiou
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.A.); (N.N.-S.); (R.M.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Roxana Talpos Niculescu
- Discipline of Odontotherapy-Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Marius Pricop
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.A.); (N.N.-S.); (R.M.); (A.P.); (M.P.)
| | | | - Magda Mihaela Luca
- Pediatric Dentistry Research Center (Pedo-Research), Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Malina Popa
- Pediatric Dentistry Research Center (Pedo-Research), Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yu L, McGarry S, Cruickshank D, Jensen GS. Rapid increase in immune surveillance and expression of NKT and γδT cell activation markers after consuming a nutraceutical supplement containing Aloe vera gel, extracts of Poria cocos and rosemary. A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291254. [PMID: 37699014 PMCID: PMC10497150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
GOAL To evaluate the acute impact of a nutraceutical blend on immune surveillance. STUDY DESIGN A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted in 11 healthy subjects. Blood samples were taken immediately before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after consuming placebo or 500 mg of UP360, which is a blend of botanicals from Aloe vera, Poria cocos, and rosemary (APR extract). Immunophenotyping and flow cytometry quantified numbers of monocytes, NK cells, NKT cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, γδT cells, and total T cells, and expression of CD25 and CD69 activation markers. Plasma was tested for cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. RESULTS Compared to the placebo, consumption of APR extract triggered rapid increases in chemokine levels starting at 1 hour, including IP-10 (P<0.05) and MCP-1 (P<0.1), which peaked at 2 hours (P<0.01) and 3 hours (P<0.05), respectively. The stem cell-mobilizing growth factor G-CSF increased at 2 hours (P<0.05). Increased immune surveillance involved a transient effect for monocytes at 1 hour, followed by NKT cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and γδT cells at 2-3 hours. Increased immune cell alertness was seen at 1 hour by increased CD25 expression on monocytes (P<0.01), NKT cells (P<0.01), and T cells (P<0.05). NKT cells showed upregulation of CD69 at 2 hours (P<0.01). Increased enzymatic activity was seen at 2 hours for the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (P<0.05) and catalase (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Consumption of APR extract triggered acute changes to chemokine levels. In addition, immune alertness was increased via the expression of activation markers on multiple types of innate immune cells, followed by increased immune surveillance and antioxidant protection. This suggests a beneficial enhancement of natural immune surveillance, likely via a combination of gut-mediated cytokine release and vagus nerve communication, in combination with cellular protection from oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yu
- NIS Labs, Port Dover, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chelu M, Musuc AM, Popa M, Calderon Moreno J. Aloe vera-Based Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Properties and Therapeutic Effects. Gels 2023; 9:539. [PMID: 37504418 PMCID: PMC10379830 DOI: 10.3390/gels9070539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aloe vera-based hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings due to their biocompatibility and unique wound-healing properties. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the application of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound healing. The synthesis methods, structural characteristics, and properties of Aloe vera-based hydrogels are discussed. Mechanisms of therapeutic agents released from Aloe vera-based hydrogels, including diffusion, swelling, and degradation, are also analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels on wound healing, as well as the reduction of inflammation, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration, are highlighted. The incorporation of various therapeutic agents, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ones, into Aloe vera-based hydrogels is reviewed in detail. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound dressing applications are considered. This review provides valuable information on the current status of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings and highlights their potential to improve wound healing outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adina Magdalena Musuc
- “Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | | | - Jose Calderon Moreno
- “Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (M.C.); (M.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim ST, Pressman P, Clemens R, Moore A, Hamilton R, Hayes AW. The absence of genotoxicity of Aloe vera beverages: A review of the literature. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 174:113628. [PMID: 36702364 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
|
6
|
Mitra SS, Ghorai M, Nandy S, Mukherjee N, Kumar M, Radha, Ghosh A, Jha NK, Proćków J, Dey A. Barbaloin: an amazing chemical from the 'wonder plant' with multidimensional pharmacological attributes. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 395:1525-1536. [PMID: 36173445 PMCID: PMC9520999 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02294-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is nicknamed the 'Miracle plant' or sometimes as the 'Wonder plant'. It is a plant that has been used since ancient times for the innumerable health benefits associated with it. It is one of the important plants that has its use in conventional medicinal treatments. It is a perennial succulent, drought-tolerant member of the family Asphodelaceae. There are scores of properties associated with the plant that help in curing various forms of human ailments. Extracts and gels obtained from plants have been shown to be wonderful healers of different conditions, mainly various skin problems. Also, this plant is popular in the cosmetics industry. The underlying properties of the plant are now mainly associated with the natural phytochemicals present in the plant. Diverse groups of phytoingredients are found in the plant, including various phenolics, amino acids, sugars, vitamins, and different other organic compounds, too. One of the primary ingredients found in the plant is the aloin molecule. It is an anthraquinone derivative and exists as an isomer of Aloin A and Aloin B. Barbaloin belonging to the first group is a glucoside of the aloe-emodin anthrone molecule. Various types of pharmacological properties exhibited by the plant can be attributed to this chemical. Few significant ones are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-viral, along with their different immunity-boosting actions. Recently, molecular coupling studies have also found the role of these molecules as a potential cure against the ongoing COVID-19 disease. This study comprehensively focuses on the numerous pharmacological actions of the primary compound barbaloin obtained from the Aloe vera plant along with the mechanism of action and the potent application of these natural molecules under various conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Sikdar Mitra
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Mimosa Ghorai
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Samapika Nandy
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Nobendu Mukherjee
- Department of Health Sciences, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research On Cotton Technology, Mumbai, 400019, Maharashtra, India
| | - Radha
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Department of Botany, Gauhati University, 781014, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering & Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Food Technology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied & Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jarosław Proćków
- Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska 5b, 51-631, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hayes AW, Clemens RA, Pressman P. The absence of genotoxicity of a mixture of aloin A and B and a commercial aloe gel beverage. Toxicol Mech Methods 2022; 32:385-394. [PMID: 34979868 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2021.2023828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Aloe products are increasingly valued as ingredients in food supplements and as flavoring agents. The global Aloe vera market is varied, large, growing, and increasingly important in food, cosmetics, and medicines. Aloin, an anthraquinone glycoside, is one of the major components by weight of the anthraquinone derivatives of Aloe vera gel. Principal metabolites, aloe emodin and emodin, are a source of debate concerning toxic vs salutary effects, hence the accurate toxicological characterization of these compounds has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to determine the genotoxic profile of a stabilized Aloe vera juice product derived from the inner filet and marketed as a beverage currently sold in the European Union containing 8 to 10 ppm aloin and a mixture of purified aloin A and B. The present data confirm that a commercial stabilized Aloe vera gel intended for consumption as a juice beverage is not genotoxic. Furthermore, both aloin A and B were negative in the same assays and therefore are also not genotoxic. These results are consistent with the work of other groups and contrast with data obtained using products containing the Aloe vera latex hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Wallace Hayes
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Roger A Clemens
- School of Pharmacy, International Center for Regulatory and Quality Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter Pressman
- Saba University School of Medicine, Caribbean Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hu J, Lloyd M, Hobbs C, Cox P, Burke K, Pearce G, Streicker MA, Gao Q, Frankos V. 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. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:511-519. [PMID: 33747796 PMCID: PMC7973126 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Hu
- Herbalife Nutrition, Torrance, CA, 90502, United States
| | - Mel Lloyd
- Covance Laboratories Ltd., Harrogate, United Kingdom
| | - Cheryl Hobbs
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, Morrisville, NC, 27560, United States
| | - Peter Cox
- Covance Laboratories Ltd., Harrogate, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Burke
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, Morrisville, NC, 27560, United States
| | - Gareth Pearce
- Covance Laboratories Ltd., Harrogate, United Kingdom
| | | | - Quanyin Gao
- Herbalife Nutrition, Torrance, CA, 90502, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|