No abstract available.
Aloe*

No abstract available.
Aloe* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact*

Aims: Endophytic fungi are organisms that colonize living plant tissues without causing significant symptoms of diseases. They are known as the repository of bioactive compounds. This study was aimed to isolate endophytic fungi associated with Aloe vera and to assess their antimicrobial activity against the diabetic wound pathogens that result to lower limb amputations. Methodology and results: In this study, 84 endophytic fungi were isolated from A. vera by using 5% sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol as surface sterilants. On preliminary antimicrobial screening by agar plug assay, 12 (14.3%) isolates showed significant antagonistic activity on the test microorganisms. Two of the endophytes were identified as Aspergillus flavus and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides through morphological and molecular techniques. The fungal cultures fermented in shake flask were extracted subsequently with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts of A. flavus and C. gloeosporioides inhibited all test bacteria. The compounds in the extracts were seemed to be semi-polar in nature. On broth microdilution assay, minimal inhibitory and minimal lethality concentration of ethyl acetate extracts of the fungi were found in the range of 0.63−2.50 and 1.25−5.00 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study reveals that A. vera harbours a wide diversity of endophytic fungi. A. flavus and C. gloeosporioides showing broad spectrum antimicrobial activity on wound pathogens may be potential sources of bioactive compounds. Further investigations should be conducted to isolate and identify the antimicrobial compound produced by these fungal isolates.
Endophytes--isolation & ; purification ; Aloe

Aims: Wax apple is an important fruit crop in Malaysia and other tropical countries. However, the black spot disease caused by Lasiodoplodia theobromae can damage the wax apple plants, reducing fruit production and quality. Chemical fungicides are commonly used to overcome this disease. However, their overuse might increase fungal resistance to chemicals. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro antifungal properties of an Aloe vera film incorporated with cinnamon oil on L. theobromae in wax apples. Methodology and results: In vitro antifungal tests were conducted using the poisoned food. This present study found that the inhibition of L. theobromae mycelia when treated with A. vera film with different percentages of cinnamon oil was significantly different compared to the control film at (P<0.05). Results suggest that A. vera film without cinnamon oil showed the highest percentage of inhibition (37.31%) than other films with cinnamon oil due to the antagonistic and less synergistic effect. However, A. vera film with 0.07% of cinnamon oil showed the highest percentage of mycelia inhibition (36.15%) compared to the film with 0.06%, 0.05% and 0.04% cinnamon oil, with mycelia inhibition of 30.55%, 24.25% and 18.82%, respectively, while the mancozeb (positive control) showed 100% inhibition. Conclusion, significance and impact of study In conclusion, A. vera film alone had 37.31% inhibition compared to 36.15% inhibition in A. vera film with 0.7% cinnamon oil. As a result, a tiny amount of cinnamon oil added to the mixture might aid in controlling the black spot disease in wax fruits.
Antifungal Agents ; Aloe ; Oils, Volatile ; Plant Extracts

Aloin is a physiologically active anthraquinone present in aloe. There are two isomers of aloin, aloin A and aloin B, occurring as a mixture of diastereomers. The objective of this study was to determine the bioavailability and tissue distribution of aloin. Rats were gavaged with 11.8g/kg aloin, and the levels of aloin and its conjugates were measured in plasma, tissues, and urine. Plasma aloin level showed a peak at 1hr after the administration and the concentration was 59.07+/-10.5 ng/ml. The 24 h cumulated urinary aloin was 0.03% of the initial dose. These results suggest that aloin is absorbed and reaches a peak plasma level within 1-1.5 h after the administration and a significant portion is possibly metabolized or is excreted in feces. These results can apply to the determination of the adequate intake level of aloe and aloe products to achieve the desired biological effect, and to interprete in vitro study results.
Aloe ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Emodin ; Feces ; Plasma ; Rats ; Tissue Distribution

Melanosis coli is described as a black or brown discoloration of the mucosa of the colon. Such a discoloration is largely due to pigment granule deposition in macrophages in the colonic mucosa, which arises from anthraquinone-containing laxative abuse. Melanosis coli has usually been reported in the elderly. We present the first case of melanosis coli associated with aloe consumption in a Korean child.
Aged ; Aloe ; Child ; Colon ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Melanosis ; Mucous Membrane

Aloe has been widely used as folk medicine for centuries, especially for skin injury and burns. The aloes consisted of various substances including highly sensitizing agent, anthraquinone and there are few reports of hypersensitivity to aloe in the medical literatures. We report herein a case of hypersensitivity associated with oral aloe agent. A 36-year-old woman was referred for recurrent pruritic hives on various parts of her body 3 days ago. She had been admitted with acute urticaria and hepatitis in another hospital 20 days previously and discharged 1 week ago. On detailed medication history, she had been consuming oral aloe agent since 1 month ago and developed pruritic hives and athralgia following ingestion of oral aloe agent. Abnormalities of liver function were also shown. The patient underwent allergic skin test and showed positive response to aloe.
Adult ; Aloe* ; Burns ; Eating ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Liver ; Medicine, Traditional ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Urticaria

PURPOSE: Aloe-emodin (AE), an ingredient of aloe, is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms of its inflammatory modulatory activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of AE using Pam₃CSK₄-stimulated macrophages. METHODS: RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with AE (0~20 mM) for 1 h, followed by treatment with Pam₃CSK₄ for 1 h. After incubation, mRNA expression levels of cytokines were measured. The effect of AE on TLR2-related molecules was also investigated in Pam₃CSK₄-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: AE attenuated Pam₃CSK₄-stimulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Two concentrations of AE (10 µM and 20 µM) effectively reduced mRNA expression of TLR2 by 41.18% and 54.43%, respectively, compared to that in control cells (p < 0.05). AE also decreased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were markedly reduced by 20 µM AE. In particular, AE decreased phosphorylation of ERK in a dose-dependent manner in Pam₃CSK₄-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that AE exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing TLR2-mediated activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in macrophages.
Aloe ; Cytokines ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages* ; Necrosis ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; RNA, Messenger

Colonic lesions by irritant laxative abuse are devided into melanosis coli, cathartic colon, soap or chemical colitis. Melanosis coli is the brownish or black discoloration of the colon because of the accumulation of lipofuscin pigment in macrophages located in lamina propria and associated with anthraquinone containing laxative abuse. The site of this lesion is more common in cecum and proximal colon, but whole colon can be involved. This lesion is occurred between 4 months and 13 months from initiation of drug medication, and the lesion is benign because the pigments disappear by withdrawning the laxatives. A number of cases were reported in our country, all of the cases were associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone type laxatives. We presents two cases of melanosis eoli that had administrated aloe to treat the chronic constipation during long terms, and one case of melanosis coli that had not administrated laxatives or a specific drug with chronic constipation. All of three cases were confirmed by colonoscopy.
Aloe ; Cecum ; Colitis ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Constipation ; Laxatives ; Lipofuscin ; Macrophages ; Melanosis* ; Mucous Membrane ; Soaps

Many research studies report the healing effects of Aloe Vera, thyroid hormone cream and silver sulfadiazine. However, the effects of these therapeutic agents are not well understood and have not been compared in one study. This study aimed at investigating the effects of topical application of an Aloe vera gel, a thyroid hormone cream and a silver sulfadiazine cream on the healing of skin wounds surgically induced in Wistar rats for determining the treatment of choice. In a randomized controlled trial, twelve male rats, aged 120 days and with a mean weight of 250 to 300 g, were divided randomly into 5 groups based on drug treatments: Aloe vera gel (AV), thyroid hormone cream (TC), silver sulfadiazine 1% (S), vehicle (V) and control. To evaluate the efficacy of each treatment technique, a biomechanical approach was used to assess tensile stress after 14 days of treatment. Tensile stress was significantly improved in the Aloe vera gel group as compared with the other four groups (P< or =0.05). While the other treatment options resulted in better healing than the control group, this difference was not significant. We conclude that Aloe vera topical application accelerated the healing process more than thyroid hormone, silver sulfadiazine and vehicle in surgically induced incisions in rats.
Aged ; Aloe ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silver ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Wound Healing