Biologic Effects Of Aloe Vera Gel

摘要

Aloe vera is known for its many health benefits. It helps in improving the appearance of skin, treat digestive problems and boost immune systems. Use of aloe vera is beneficial in many oral conditions. Due to its anti bacterial qualities it is effective in fighting the bacteria and preventing bad breath, gingivitis, stomatitis and periodontitis. Acute mouth lesions are improved by direct application of aloe vera gel on herpetic viral lesions, apthous ulcers and cracks occurring at corner of mouth. Denture patients with sore spots and ill fitting complete or partial dentures can benefit by the use of aloe vera. It also promotes cell growth and act as detoxifying agent. Introduction The use of aloe vera is being promoted for a large variety of conditions. Aloe vera looks like a catus but it isn’t – the plant is a member of the lily family which includes garlic and onion. The aloe plant is grown in warm tropical areas and cannot survive freezing temperatures. There are many species of aloe grown around the world but the main medicinal one is Aloe vera Barbadensis. Aloe vera a popular herbal remedy used medicinally for thousand years has multiple dental uses. It has been shown to enhance defence mechanisms, and has variety of components to help combat periodontal diseases and other oral conditions. The pharmacologic actions of aloe vera as studied invitro or in animals include anti-inflammatory anti-arthritic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal (1). The table provides a list of reported actions, properties and uses of aloe vera (2). The aim of this review was to summarize various biologic effects of aloe vera particularly antimicrobial, anti inflammatory and wound healing. Composition of aloe vera The Aloe barbadensis plant consists of two different parts, each of which produce substances with completely different compositions and therapeutic properties. The parenchymal tissue makes up the inner portion of the aloe leaves and produces the aloe vera gel (or mucilage), a clear, thin, tasteless, jelly-like material. This tissue is recovered from the leaf by separating the gel from the inner cellular debris. The other part of the plant is a group of specialized cells known as the pericyclic tubules, which occur just beneath the outer green rind of the leaf. These cells produce an exudate that consists of a bitter yellow latex with powerful laxative-like actions. This exudate, which is not to be confused with the gel/mucilage from the parenchymal leaf tissue—is available commercially for systemic ingestion to produce catharsis (3). The composition of aloe vera is complex. It consists of 75 different ingredients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid (4-7). The plant contains vitamins A, C and F. Vitamins B (thiamine), niacin, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), choline and folic acid along with traces of vitamin B12. Enzymes such as acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatise, amylase, lactic dehydrogenase and lipase. When taken orally, these biochemical catalysts, amylase and lipase aid in digestion by breaking down fats and sugars (8). Yamaguchi et al reported the presence of aluminium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and iron in the aloe plant (9). Sheldon MS reported that magnesium lactate inhibits histidine decarboxylase and prevents the formation of histamine from the amino acid, histadine. The prevention of its formation may explain the antipuritic effect of aloe vera (7). Sugars are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant, surrounding the inner parenchyma or gel. They form 25 per cent of the solid fraction and comprise both mono- and polysaccharides. The most important are the long chain polysaccharides, comprising glucose and mannose, known as the gluco-mannans. Yaron’s 1991 study regarding the gel’s viscosity and rheology indicated that the glucomannans in aloe rarely were found in othe