Activation of a mouse macrophage cell line by acemannan: the major carbohydrate fraction from Aloe vera gel (original) (raw)
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Gels
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel is a frequently used ingredient in many food pro-ducts, particularly beverages, due to its reported health benefits. Studies have identified acemannan, a polysaccharide rich in mannose units which are partially or fully acetylated, as the primary bioactive compound in Aloe vera gel. The acemannan content and its degree of acetylation (DA) were measured in 15 different commercial beverages containing Aloe vera at varying concentrations (from 30% to 99.8%) as listed on the label. Other biopolymers such as pectins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose were also evaluated. Flavoured beverages (seven samples labelled as containing from 30% to 77% Aloe vera) presented low levels of acemannan (<30 mg/100 g of fresh sample) and were fully deacetylated in most cases. These samples had high levels of other polymers such as pectins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose, likely due to the addition of fruit juices for flavour. Unflavoured beverages (eight samples, wi...
International journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014
Objectives: Current clinical treatment regimes for inflammatory diseases have different drawbacks including side effects of the drugs and the high cost of long term treatment. In the last few decades different promising herbal medicines have been explored for their anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic effects, but conclusive evidences are not available in the case of crude Aloe vera gel for its anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of the study was to document the protective and curative roles of orally administered and peritoneally injected crude wild Aloe vera gel in carrageenaninduced inflammation in a rat model. Methods: Inflammation was induced by injecting 1% carrageenan in the left hind paw of Wistar albino rat. Crude, unprocessed Aloe vera gel was peritoneally injected and orally fed to experimental and control rat groups to investigate its effect on paw joint edema by measuring the paw circumference with vernier caliper. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] cell viability assay was performed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of the gel. Results: Paw edema was brought to near normal levels in the experimental groups after the treatment with crude Aloe vera gel. Orally fed gel showed no cytotoxicity on macrophages and spleenocytes. Protective property of crude Aloe gel was also evident in both the experiments. Conclusion: Aloe vera crude gel has both protective and curative properties against inflammation.
The main effects of different drying procedures: spray-, industrial freeze-, refractance window-and radiant zone-drying, on acemannan, the main bioactive polysaccharide from Aloe vera gel, were investigated. All the drying procedures caused a considerable decrease in the acemannan yield (∼40%). Degradation affected not only the backbone, as indicated by the important losses of (1 → 4)-linked mannose units, but also the side-chains formed by galactose. In addition, methylation analysis suggested the deacetyla-tion of mannose units (>60%), which was confirmed by 1 H NMR analysis. Interestingly, all these changes were reflected in the functional properties which were severely affected. Thus, water retention capacity values from processed samples decreased ∼50%, and a reduction greater than 80% was determined in swelling and fat adsorption capacity values. Therefore, these important modifications should be taken into consideration, since not only the functionality but also the physiological effects attributed to many Aloe vera-based products could also be affected.
Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Effects of Aloe Vera
NUST Journal of Natural Sciences
Aloe vera is part and parcel of the Liliaceae family. This is one of 250 Aloe Barbadensis species, scientifically known as Aloe Vera. Acemannane, one of the most bioactive polysaccharides of Aloe Vera, has effects of immunity modulation, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, bone repair, neuroprotection and promotion of intestinal health. The mucilaginous gel in the pulp of aloe vera formed by the parenchymal cells has been used for a variety of curative applications since ancient times. Aloe vera is a nutraceutical product used mostly for decades. It is available in a range of health drinks and wellness beverages, in capsules/tablets and in gels & creams externally. This article includes the bioactive components, extraction and processing of aloe vera and the prospects of tissue engineering. This article highlights important uses as a nutraceutical, medicinal, and therapeutic food potential of A. vera constituents. Aloe vera nutraceutical gel scaffolds, such as acemannan, promote biomedical...
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Objectives: Current clinical treatment regimes for inflammatory diseases have different drawbacks including side effects of the drugs and the high cost of long term treatment. In the last few decades different promising herbal medicines have been explored for their anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic effects, but conclusive evidences are not available in the case of crude Aloe vera gel for its anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of the study was to document the protective and curative roles of orally administered and peritoneally injected crude wild Aloe vera gel in carrageenan-induced inflammation in a rat model. Methods: Inflammation was induced by injecting 1% carrageenan in the left hind paw of Wistar albino rat. Crude, unprocessed Aloe vera gel was peritoneally injected and orally fed to experimental and control rat groups to investigate its effect on paw joint edema by measuring the paw circumference with vernier caliper. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltet...