Università di Padova, dipartimento di Istologia, microbiologia e biotecnologia medica

Teresa Pecere, M. Vittoria Gazzola, Carla Mucignat, Cristina Parolin, Francesca Dalla Vecchia, Andrea Cavaggioni, Giuseppe 
Basso, Alberto Diaspro, Benedetto Salvato, Modesto Carli e Giorgio Palù. Divisione di oncologia ed ematologia 

L'aloe-emodina, un idrossiantrachinone presente nell'aloe vera, ha un'attività specifica antitumorale antineuroectodermica sia in provetta sia nelle cellule vive. La crescita dei tumori neuroectodermici umani è inibita nei topi con grave immunodeficenza combinata senza nessun apprezzabile effetto tossico sugli animali. Il composto non inibisce la proliferazione dei fibroblasti normali nè quella delle cellule progenitrici omopoietiche. Il meccanismo di citotossicità consiste nell'induzione di apoptosi, invece la selettività contro le cellule tumorali neuroectodermiche è trovata sullo specifico sentiero energetico-dipendente dell'assunzione della sostanza. L'aloe-emodina può quindi rappresentare una sostanza guida antitumorale concettualmente nuova. 
Il testo completo http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/60/11/2800
 

Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza,

Lissoni P., Gianni L., Zerbini S., Trabattoni P., Rovelli F., divisione di radiologia oncologica 

"Questo studio preliminare suggerisce che una terapia naturale per il cancro con melatonina ed estratto di aloe vera può produrrebenefici terapeutici, almeno quanto a stabilizzazione della malattia e sopravvivenza, nei pazienti con tumori solidi incurabili, per i quali nessuna altra terapia è disponibile", 1998. 
 

Studi riguardanti gli effetti dell'aloe sulla cura dei carcinomi su persone e animali

Chemopreventive effects of Aloe arborescens on N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in
hamsters.

Furukawa F, Nishikawa A, Chihara T, Shimpo K, Beppu H, Kuzuya H, Lee IS, Hirose M. Division of Pathology, Biological Safety Research Center, National 
Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, 158-8501, Tokyo, Japan 

The modification effects of freeze-dried aloe (Aloe arborescens) whole leaf powder during the initiation phase of carcinogenesis were investigated in hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). Female Syrian hamsters were given four weekly subcutaneous injections of BOP at a dose of 10mg/kg and then given 0, 1 or 5% aloe in their diet for 5 weeks. At week 54 of the experiment, all surviving animals were sacrificed and development of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions was assessed histopathologically. The incidences of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, atypical hyperplasias or total atypical hyperplasias plus adenocarcinomas were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with BOP+5% aloe, and that of adenocarcinomas were also significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the BOP+1% aloe as compared to the BOP alone group. Multiplicities of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, atypical hyperplasias or total lesions were also significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) lower in the BOP+5% aloe group than with the BOP alone. Quantitative data for neoplastic lesions in the lung, liver, gall bladder, kidney and urinary 
bladder of hamsters were not significantly different among the three groups. In a satellite experiment, pretreatment with aloe significantly (P<0.01) reduced the formation of O(6)-methyldeoxyguanosine in epithelial cells of pancreatic ducts as compared to the BOP alone value. Our results thus indicate that aloe prevents BOP-induced pancreatic neoplasia in hamsters in relation to decreased DNA adduct formation in the target tissue. PMID: 11867195 

The effect of aloe emodin on the proliferation of a new merkel carcinoma cell line.

Wasserman L, Avigad S, Beery E, Nordenberg J, Fenig E. Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Rabin Medical 
Center Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel. yardenam@clalit.org.ie 

A free-floating cell line has been established from a metastatic lesion of a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patient. The cell line was characterized by immunocytochemical reactions with antibodies against the epithelial and neuroendocrine antigens: cytokeratin 20, neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A, neurofilament protein, synaptophysin, and calcitonin. Karyotype analysis of the MCC cells showed deletion in chromosomes 3 and 7, loss of chromosome 10, and several translocations in other chromosomes. No mutation was detected in the TP53 gene, after analyzing the complete coding region. Growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and nerve and epidermal growth factors had no effect on the proliferation of the cells. The differentiation-inducing agents sodium butyrate and dimethyl sulfoxide, especially the former, markedly inhibited the proliferation of the MCC cells. Aloe emodin, a natural constituent of aloe vera leaves, significantly inhibited the growth of MCC cells. Aloe emodin has been reported to be nontoxic for normal cells but to 
possess specific toxicity for neuroectodermal tumor cells. Differentiation-inducing agents, and aloe emodin, merit further investigation as potential agents for treating MCC. PMID: 11803275 

Inhibition of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci formation in rat colorectum by whole leaf Aloe arborescens
Miller var. natalensis Berger.

Shimpo K, Chihara T, Beppu H, Ida C, Kaneko T, Nagatsu T, Kuzuya H. Fujita Memorial Institute of Pharmacognosy, Fujita Health University, Hisai, Mie 514-1296, 
Japan. 

We examined the modifying effect of whole-leaf Aloe arborescens Miller var. natalensis Berger (designated as 'ALOE') on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, in the rat colorectum. Male F344 rats (4 weeks old) were fed the basal diet, or experimental diets containing 1% or 5% ALOE for 5 weeks. One week later, all rats except those in the vehicle-treated groups were injected s.c. with AOM (15 mg/kg, once weekly for 3 weeks). At 9 
weeks of age, all the rats were killed, and the colorectum and liver were evaluated for ACF and cytosolic quinone reductase (QR; a phase 2 enzyme), respectively. 
In rats given AOM and ALOE (1% or 5% in diet) the numbers of ACF/colorectum, aberrant crypts/colorectum, aberrant crypts/focus and large ACF/colorectum were significantly decreased compared with those of rats given AOM alone (all p < 0.01). No ACF were found in rats treated without AOM. In addition, ALOE significantly increased cytosolic QR activity in the liver (p < 0.01). These results indicated that ALOE inhibited the development of AOM-induced ACF in the rat colorectum, with increased QR activity in the liver, and therefore suggested that ALOE might have a chemopreventive effect against colon carcinogenesis at least in the initiation stage. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID: 11746864 

Effects and mechanisms of aloe-emodin on cell death in human lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lee HZ, Hsu SL, Liu MC, Wu CH. School of Pharmacy, China Medical College, 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. hong@mail.cmc.edu.tw 

Aloe-emodin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-anthraquinone) is an active component from the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum. The study investigated the effects and mechanisms of aloe-emodin-induced cell death in human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line CH27. Aloe-emodin (40 microM)-induced CH27 cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladders and sub-G(1) formation). Aloe-emodin-induced apoptosis of CH27 cells involved modulation of the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, such as BclX(L), Bag-1, and Bak, and was associated with the translocation of Bak and Bax from cytosolic to particulate fractions. Aloe-emodin-treated CH27 cells had an increased relative abundance of cytochrome c in the cytosolic fraction. Results demonstrated that the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 is an important determinant of apoptotic death induced by aloe-emodin. These results suggest that aloe-emodin induces CH27 cell death by the Bax and Fas death pathway. PMID: 11730720 

Cytotoxic and DNA damage-inducing activities of low molecular weight phenols from rhubarb.

Shi YQ, Fukai T, Sakagami H, Kuroda J, Miyaoka R, Tamura M, Yoshida N, Nomura T. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. 

Six new phenol (anthraquinone or stilbene) glycosides with an acyl group at 6-position of the glucopyranose moiety were isolated from rhubarb (the roots of Rheum palmatum) cultivated in Japan, together with 22 known compounds. Most of these compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against tumor and normal cells and for induction of DNA damage by spore rec-assay. Among them, emodin and aloe-emodin showed higher cytotoxic activities against human oral squamous cell 
carcinoma (HSC-2) and salivary gland tumor (HSG) cell lines than against normal human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Chrysophanol 8-O-beta-(6'-acetyl)glucopyranoside, 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone 4'-O-beta-D-(2"-O-galloyl-6"-O-cinnamoyl) glucopyranoside, and 6"-O-(4'''-hydroxybenzoyl) resveratroloside exhibited relatively higher cytotoxic activities against all these cells. The other glycosides of anthraquinone or stilbene showed weaker cytotoxic activity against these tumor cell lines, but may be considered as cancer chemopreventive agents. Spore rec-assay with a recombination deficient mutant of Bacillus 
subtilis M45 demonstrated the DNA damage-inducing activity of emodin and aloe-emodin 15-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside among, rhubarb phenols. PMID: 
11724365 

Protein kinase C involvement in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis in lung carcinoma cell.

Lee HZ. School of Pharmacy, China Medical College, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. hong@mail.cmc.edu.tw 

1. This study demonstrated aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis in lung carcinoma cell lines CH27 (human lung squamous carcinoma cell) and H460 (human lung non-small cell carcinoma cell). Aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis was characterized by nuclear morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. 
2. During apoptosis, an increase in cytochrome c of cytosolic fraction and activation of caspase-3, identified by the cleavage of its proform, were observed. 
3. To elucidate whether the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes are involved in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis, this study examined the changes of PKC isozymes by Western blotting techniques during aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis. 
4. The expression of PKC isozymes involved in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis of CH27 and H460 cells. In this study, aloe-emodin and emodin induced the changes of each of PKC isozymes in CH27 and H460 cells. 
5. The decrease in the expression of PKC delta and epsilon may play a critical role in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced 
apoptosis in CH27 and H460 cells. 
6. The present study also demonstrated that PKC stimulation occurs at a site downstream of caspase-3 in the emodin-mediated apoptotic pathway. PMID: 11682458 

Studio sui benefici dell'aloe contro gli effetti collaterali della radioterapia

The effect of aloe vera gel/mild soap versus mild soap alone in preventing skin reactions in patients undergoing
radiation therapy.

Olsen DL, Raub W Jr, Bradley C, Johnson M, Macias JL, Love V, Markoe A. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, USA. 

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the use of mild soap and aloe vera gel versus mild soap alone would decrease the incidence of skin reactions in patients undergoing radiation therapy. DATA SOURCES: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Radiation therapy outpatient clinic in a cancer center affiliated with a major teaching medical facility. SAMPLE: The mean age of the participants was 56 years. The group consisted of Caucasians (74%) and 
African Americans (26%). The ethnic mix was non-Hispanic (65%) and Hispanic (35%). METHODS: Prophylactic skin care began on the first day of radiation therapy. Patients cleansed the area with mild, unscented soap. Patients randomized into the experimental arm of the trial were instructed to liberally apply aloe vera gel to the area at various intervals throughout the day. FINDINGS: At low cumulative dose levels < or = 2,700 cGy, no difference existed in the effect of adding aloe. When the cumulative dose was high (> 2,700 cGy), the median time was five weeks prior to any skin changes in the aloe/soap arm versus three weeks in the soap only arm. When the cumulative dose increases over time, there seems to be a protective effect of adding aloe to the soap regimen. IMPLICATIONS 
FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Skin products used to treat radiation dermatitis vary among institutions. Nurses should be aware that some patients may be predisposed 
to skin problems. Nurses must be aware of newly developed products and research regarding these products so that effective treatment can be instituted. PMID: 
11338761 

Studies on chemical radioprotectors against X-irradiation used by soft X-ray accelerator

Shinoda M. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan. 

This review describes the modes of mice radiation injuries induced by soft X-irradiation under various conditions and the protective effects of several kinds of substances on these injuries. The models of radiation injuries in this study were bone marrow death after lethal irradiation, skin damage induced by irradiation with long length soft X-ray and leukocytopenia in the peripheral blood after sublethal irradiation. Two bioassay methods were established for the survival effect on the lethal irradiation and protective potency on the skin damage induced by soft X-irradiation. The protective potencies of various sulfur compounds, related compounds of ferulic acid, nucleic acid constitutional compounds, crude drugs and chinese traditional medicines were determined and then many effective drugs were recognized. Effective components in the methanol extracts of Cnidii Rhizoma and Aloe arborescens recognized as radioprotectable were fractionated. As a result of these studies, it was observed that the active principles in Cnidii Rhizoma were identified as ferulic acid and adenosine. The scavenge action of active oxygens, a protective effect on the damages of deoxyribonucleic acid and superoxide dismutase by in vitro soft X-irradiation were evaluated as radiation protective mechanisms. PMID: 7699579 

Studio sull'azione benefica generale dell'aloe contro i tumori

Chemomodulatory action of Aloe vera on the profiles of enzymes associated with carcinogen metabolism and
antioxidant status regulation in mice.

Singh RP, Dhanalakshmi S, Rao AR. Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. 

The effect of two doses (30 microl and 60 microl/day/mice daily for 14 days) of the fresh leaf pulp extract of Aloe vera was examined on carcinogen-metabolizing phase-I and phase-II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice. The modulatory effect of the pulp extract was also examined on extrahepatic organs (lung, kidney and forestomach) for the activities of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diophorase, 
superoxide dismutase and catalase. The positive control mice were treated with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Significant increases in the levels of acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) content, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed in the liver. Aloe vera significantly reduced the levels of 
cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5. Thus, Aloe vera is clearly an inducer of phase-II enzyme system. Treatment with both doses of Aloe caused a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the liver, suggesting its role in protection against prooxidant-induced membrane and cellular damage. The microsomal and cytosolic protein was significantly enhanced by Aloe vera, indicating the possibility of its involvement in the induction of protein synthesis. BHA, an antioxidant compound, provided the authenticity of our assay protocol and response of animals against modulator. The pulp extract was effective in inducing GST, DTD, SOD and catalase as measured in extrahepatic organs. Thus, besides liver, other organs (lung, kidney and forestomach) were also influenced favorably by Aloe vera in order to detoxify reactive metabolites, including chemical carcinogens and drugs. PMID: 11185732 

Studies of aloe. VI. Cathartic effect of isobarbaloin.

Ishii Y, Takino Y, Toyo'oka T, Tanizawa H. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan. 

The cathartic effect of isobarbaloin, a stereoisomer of barbaloin (compound principally responsible for the cathartic activity of Aloe), was examined in male rats by oral administration. Individual differences in sensitivity in the laxative activity of isobarbaloin and barbaloin was not found. The cathartic activity (ED50) of isobarbaloin in barbaloin positive rats was 19.2 mg/kg, nearly equal to that of barbaloin (19.5 mg/kg). Also, isobarbaloin administered orally was demonstrated to decompose to aloe-emodin-9-anthrone (active metabolite of barbaloin) as well as to barbaloin. Therefore, it is considered that the mechanism underlying the cathartic effect of isobarbaloin is the same as that of barbaloin. PMID: 9853419 

Effetti dell'aloe sulla leucemia negli uomini

Induction of apoptosis in human leukaemic cell lines K562, HL60 and U937 by diethylhexylphthalate isolated from Aloe
vera Linne.

Lee KH, Hong HS, Lee CH, Kim CH. Animal Resource Research Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. 

We investigated the effect of diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) from Aloe vera Linne on the apoptosis of human leukaemic cell lines K562, HL60 and U937 to examine its pharmacological activity. At a level of 10 microg mL(-1) DEHP a significant anti-leukaemic effect was observed for all three cell lines, as measured by clonogenic assay. After treatment with 10 microg mL(-1) DEHP for 4 h, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometric analysis confirmed the occurrence of 
apoptosis. These results indicate that DEHP isolated from Aloe vera Linne has a potent antileukaemic effect, and thus represents a new type of pharmacological activity with respect to human leukaemic cells. PMID: 11007077 

Anti-leukaemic and anti-mutagenic effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate isolated from Aloe vera Linne.

Lee KH, Kim JH, Lim DS, Kim CH. Animal Resource Research Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea. 

Extracts of Aloe vera Linne have been found to exhibit cytotoxicity against human tumour cell lines. This study examines the anti-tumour effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) isolated from Aloe vera Linne, in human and animal cell lines. Its anti-mutagenic effects were examined using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains. Growth inhibition was specifically exerted by DEHP against three leukaemic cell lines at concentrations below 100 microg mL(-1). At 100 microg mL(-1) DEHP, K562, HL60 and U937 leukaemic cell lines showed growth inhibition of 95, 97 and 95%, respectively. DEHP exhibited an inhibitory activity of 74, 83 and 81%, respectively, in K562, HL60 and U937 cell lines at a concentration of 10 microg mL(-1). At a concentration of 1 microg mL(-1), DEHP exerted an inhibitory activity of 50, 51 and 52%, respectively, in K562, HL60 and U937. In a normal cell line, MDBK, DEHP exerted 30% growth inhibition at a concentration of 100 microg mL(-1), and showed no inhibitory activity at concentrations below 50 microg mL(-1). It was found that DEHP exerted 
anti-mutagenic activity in the Salmonella mutation assay. The number of mutant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 upon exposure to AF-2 (0.2 microg/plate) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of different DEHP concentrations (decreasing to 90.4, 83.9, 75.4, 69.6 and 46.9%, respectively, for DEHP concentrations of 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 microg/plate). In the case of Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100, DEHP reduced AF-2-induced mutagenicity at 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 microg/plate to 57.4, 77.5, 80.0, 89.0 and 91.5%, respectively. The isolated compound from Aloe vera Linne, DEHP, was considered to be the active principle responsible for anti-leukaemic and anti-mutagenic effects in-vitro. PMID: 10864149 

Tumori neuroectodermici

Aloe-emodin is a new type of anticancer agent with selective activity against neuroectodermal tumors. 

Pecere T, Gazzola MV, Mucignat C, Parolin C, Vecchia FD, Cavaggioni A, Basso G, Diaspro A, Salvato B, Carli M, Palu G. Department of Histology, 
Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, Medical School, University of Padova, Italy. 

Here we report that aloe-emodin (AE), a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, has a specific in vitro and in vivo antineuroectodermal tumor activity. 
The growth of human neuroectodermal tumors is inhibited in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency without any appreciable toxic effects on the animals. 
The compound does not inhibit the proliferation of normal fibroblasts nor that of hemopoietic progenitor cells. The cytotoxicity mechanism consists of the induction of apoptosis, whereas the selectivity against neuroectodermal tumor cells is founded on a specific energy-dependent pathway of drug incorporation. Taking into account its unique cytotoxicity profile and mode of action, AE might represent a conceptually new lead antitumor drug. PMID: 10850417 

Studio degli effetti dell'aloe contro tumori della pelle.

Adverse and beneficial effects of plant extracts on skin and skin disorders.

Mantle D, Gok MA, Lennard TW. Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU. 

Plants are of relevance to dermatology for both their adverse and beneficial effects on skin and skin disorders respectively. Virtually all cultures worldwide have relied historically, or continue to rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. Approximately one-third of all traditional medicines are for treatment of wounds or skin disorders, compared to only 1-3% of modern drugs. The use of such medicinal plant extracts for the treatment of skin disorders arguably has been based largely on historical/anecdotal evidence, since there has been relatively little data available in the scientific literature, particularly with regard to the efficacy of plant extracts in controlled clinical trials. In this article therefore, adverse and beneficial aspects of medicinal plants relating to skin and skin disorders have been reviewed, based on recently available information from the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Beneficial aspects of medicinal plants on skin include: healing of wounds and burn injuries (especially Aloe vera); antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and acaricidal activity against skin infections such as acne, herpes and scabies (especially tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil); activity against inflammatory/immune disorders affecting skin (e.g. psoriasis); and anti-tumour promoting activity against skin cancer (identified using chemically-induced two-stage carcinogenesis in mice). Adverse effects of plants on skin reviewed include: irritant contact dermatitis caused mechanically (spines, irritant hairs) or by irritant chemicals in plant sap (especially members of the Ranunculaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Compositae plant families); phytophotodermatitis resulting from skin contamination by plants containing furocoumarins, and subsequent exposure to UV light (notably members of the Umbelliferae and Rutaceae plant families); and immediate (type I) ordelayed hypersensitivity contact reactions mediated by the immune system in individuals sensitized to plants or plant products (e.g. peanut allergy, poison ivy (Toxicodendron) poisoning). PMID: 11482001 

Effetti dell'aloe contro i tumori cerebrali

Acemannan purified from Aloe vera induces phenotypic and functional maturation of immature dendritic cells.

Lee JK, Lee MK, Yun YP, Kim Y, Kim JS, Kim YS, Kim K, Han SS, Lee CK. College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, South 
Korea. 

Acemannan, a major carbohydrate fraction of Aloe vera gel, has been known to have antiviral and antitumoral activities in vivo through activation of immune responses. The present study was set out to define the immunomodulatory activity of acemannan on dendritic cells (DCs), which are the most important accessory cells for the initiation of primary immune responses. Immature DCs were generated from mouse bone marrow (BM) cells by culturing in a medium supplemented with GM-CSF and IL-4, and then stimulated with acemannan, sulfated acemannan, and LPS, respectively. The resultant DCs were examined for phenotypic and functional properties. Phenotypic analysis for the expression of class II MHC molecules and major co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1, B7-2, CD40 and CD54 confirmed that acemannan could induce maturation of immature DCs. Functional maturation of immature DCs was supported by increased allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and IL-12 production. The differentiation-inducing activity of acemannan was almost completely abolished by chemical sulfation. 
Based on these results, we propose that the adjuvant activity of acemannan is at least in part due to its capacity to promote differentiation of immature DCs. PMID:  11460308 

Sarcomi

Decreased mortality of Norman murine sarcoma in mice treated with the immunomodulator, Acemannan. 

Peng SY, Norman J, Curtin G, Corrier D, McDaniel HR, Busbee D. Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University, College 
Station 77843. 

An extract from the parenchyma of Aloe barbadensis Miller shown to contain long chain polydispersed beta (1,4)-linked mannan polymers with random O-acetyl groups (acemannan, Carrisyn) was found to initiate the phagocyte production of monokines that supported antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity and stimulated blastogenesis in thymocytes. Acemannan, in both enriched and highly purified forms, was administered intraperitoneally to female CFW mice into which murine sarcoma cells had been subcutaneously implanted. The rapidly growing, highly malignant and invasive sarcoma grew in 100% of implanted control animals, resulting in mortality in 20 to 46 days, dependent on the number of cells implanted. Approximately 40% of animals treated with acemannan at the time of tumor cell implantation (1.5 x 10(6) cells) survived. Tumors in acemannan-treated animals exhibited vascular congestion, edema, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, and central necrosing foci with hemorrhage and peripheral fibrosis. The data indicate that in vivo treatment of peritoneal macrophages stimulates the macrophage production of monokines, including interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. The data further indicate that sarcomas in animals treated i.p. with acemannan at the time of tumor cell implantation were infiltrated by immune system cells, became necrotic, and regressed. The combined data suggest that acemannan-stimulated synthesis of monokines resulted in the initiation of immune attack, necrosis, and regression of implanted sarcomas in mice. PMID: 1910624 

Tumori dei polmoni 

The therapeutic potential of Aloe Vera in tumor-bearing rats.

Corsi MM, Bertelli AA, Gaja G, Fulgenzi A, Ferrero ME. Institute of General Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Milan, Italy. 

Aloe Vera has been claimed to contain several important therapeutic properties, including anticancer effects. The effect of Aloe Vera administration was studied on a pleural tumor in rat. Growth of Yoshida AH-130 ascite hepatoma cells injected (2 x 10(5) in 0.1 ml) into pleura of male inbred Fisher rats was evaluated at different times (7th and 14th days). Data show that the use of Aloe Vera proved a therapeutic method, and that the present experimental model could be useful in the study of other therapeutics treatments in vivo. PMID: 10093794