Aloe is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates. It is cultivated in subtropical regions around the world, such as the southern border areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Aloe has been used for skin conditions and was thought to improve baldness and promote wound healing. Topical use of aloe is promoted for acne, lichen planus (a very itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth), oral submucous fibrosis, burning mouth syndrome, burns, and radiation-induced skin toxicity. Oral use of aloe is promoted for weight loss, diabetes, hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. (1) However, extensive studies are needed to confirm the claims.
RECENT RESEARCH
In a stroke, the blood flow to the brain gets blocked, brain cells may die. Microglia are like tiny caretakers in the brain. They can help clean up damage and promote healing, but sometimes they can also worsen the injury. In a study, Xun Li and colleagues focused on a specific way microglia can damage brain cells, called pyroptosis. On the other hand, aloe-emodin is a natural compound found in aloe vera. It belongs to a class of chemicals called anthraquinones, which are known for their laxative effects. Researchers wanted to see if aloe-emodin could help protect the brain after a stroke by influencing microglia. They created mini-strokes in the lab using special techniques. They gave aloe-emodin to some of the cells and looked at how the microglia reacted. They then measured brain function, cell death, and microglia activity. They found, aloe-emodin improved brain function and reduced damage after a stroke. It also seemed to calm down the microglia and prevent them from harming other brain cells. This calming effect may be due to aloe-emodin's influence on a specific pathway inside the microglia. This study suggests that aloe-emodin has potential to be a future treatment for stroke. But lots more research are needed to confirm its effects. (2)
Radiation therapy for breast cancer can irritate the skin, causing redness, dryness, and discomfort (radiation dermatitis). A study compared a new cream (Alantel®) made from natural products to a regular moisturizer to see if it could help prevent this irritation. This was a controlled experiment with two groups: One group used Alantel® cream. The other group used a regular moisturizer. Neither the patients nor the doctors knew which cream each person was using (double-blind). Totally, 70 women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy participated. The group using Alantel® was found to have fewer cases of skin irritation compared to the moisturizer group after 4 weeks. The Alantel® group also reported less difficulty with daily activities due to skin problems.This study suggests that Alantel® cream may be effective in reducing skin irritation caused by radiation therapy for breast cancer. More research is needed, but this is a promising finding for women undergoing radiation treatment. (3)
It is known that burn injuries cause severe pain, infection risks, psychological distress, financial burdens, and mortality, necessitating effective care. Aloe vera was reported to show wound healing potential. A study aimed to investigate aloe vera's impact on wound healing, pain management, and infection prevention in burn patients. Yu-Ning Huang and colleagues ran a systematic search on PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL was performed on 9th October 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). They found: Aloe vera significantly reduced mean wound healing time compared to other topicals, there was no significant differences in pain reduction and wound infection risk between aloe vera and control groups. Thus, they concluded that aloe vera expedites wound healing in second-degree burn patients without increased infection risk compared to other antimicrobial agents. However, the analgesic effects on burn injuries remain uncertain.
REFERENCE
1. Aloe Vera, Health Information, NIH, May 3, 2024.
2. Xun Li et al, Aloe-emodin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating microglial polarization and pyroptosis through inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, Phytomedicine. 2024 Apr 7:129:155578.
3. E Villegas-Becerril et al, Efficacy of an aloe vera, chamomile, and thyme cosmetic cream for the prophylaxis and treatment of mild dermatitis induced by radiation therapy in breast cancer patients (the Alantel study) , Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2024 Apr 2:39:101288