Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2020-03, Vol.25 (6), p.1324
• Main Authors: Sánchez, Marta, González-Burgos, Elena, Iglesias, Irene, Gómez-Serranillos, M Pilar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aloe; Aloe - chemistry; Aloe vera; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants; Bites; Bone cancer; Burns; Cardiotonic Agents - chemistry; Cardiotonic Agents - pharmacology; Cell adhesion & migration; Clinical trials; Collagen; Diabetes mellitus; Emodin; extracts; Fibroblasts; Gastroesophageal reflux; Growth factors; Herbal medicine; Humans; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; isolated compounds; Leukemia; Lipid peroxidation; Medicinal plants; Metabolites; Pain; Pharmacology; Phytochemicals - chemistry; Phytochemicals - isolation & purification; Phytochemicals - pharmacology; Protein expression; Radiation therapy; Review; Skin; Skin injuries; Studies; Wound healing
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules25061324

has been traditionally used to treat skin injuries (burns, cuts, insect bites, and eczemas) and digestive problems because its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. Research on this medicinal plant has been aimed at validating traditional uses and deepening the mechanism of action, identifying the compounds responsible for these activities. The most investigated active compounds are aloe-emodin, aloin, aloesin, emodin, and acemannan. Likewise, new actions have been investigated for and its active compounds. This review provides an overview of current pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials), written in English during the last six years (2014-2019). In particular, new pharmacological data research has shown that most studies refer to anti-cancer action, skin and digestive protective activity, and antimicrobial properties. Most recent works are in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials have been conducted just with , but not with isolated compounds; therefore, it would be interesting to study the clinical effect of relevant metabolites in different human conditions and pathologies. The promising results of these studies in basic research encourage a greater number of clinical trials to test the clinical application of and its main compounds, particularly on bone protection, cancer, and diabetes.