Effects of Aloe vera on colonic anastomoses of rats

Abstract

Background: Aloe vera is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry regions. Aloe vera has been known and used in traditional medicine and also in the modern world. Aloe vera has some pharmacological actions including wound healing, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory effects. We have studied the possible effects of Aloe vera gel on the healing of colonic anastomoses of rats. Material and Methods: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Aloe vera group received 2 mL/kg per day Aloe vera, and the control group received the same amount of water. Animals underwent resection and anastomosis of the distal colon. Bursting pressures of anastomoses and hydroxyproline contents of perianastomotic region were determined on the third and seventh days. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare bursting pressures and hydroxyproline levels between groups. Results: There was no difference between groups in mortality. Mean bursting pressures and mean hydroxyproline levels were lower in the control group than in the Aloe vera group both on the third and seventh days. Conclusion: Aloe vera has multiple pharmacologically active compounds. It stimulates phagocyte formation and its activity induces nitric oxide production, it has angiogenic activity, increases synthesis, maturation and cross-linking of collagen, stimulates cell proliferation, stimulates fibroblast functions and proliferation, inhibits arachidonic acid oxidation, has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces tumour necrosis factor-a levels, and has antioxidant activity. Thus, according to our findings, Aloe vera has positive effects on the colonic anastomotic healing of rats.

The Healing Effect of Plantago Major and Aloe Vera Mixture in Excisional Full Thickness Skin Wounds: Stereological Study

“…9 , 10 On the other hand, Aloe vera from Liliaceae family is another herbal medicine which is also used in the modern world due to its pharmacological actions including wound healing, antioxidant, anti-scar formation, anti-inflammatory, re-epithelialization, and immune-stimulatory effects. 11 , 12…”

Aloe vera and Vitis vinifera improve wound healing in an in vivo rat burn wound model

“…Wound healing is a response to injury aimed at reconstructing damaged tissue, and requires the precise coordination of connective tissue repair, re-epithelialization and angiogenesis for generation of new tissue and healing of the wound, increase in fibroblast proliferation and the production of several extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors (23,24). Angiogenesis is required during wound healing, and supplies oxygen and metabolites to new tissue, and disposes of metabolic waste products during wound repair (25). Angiogenesis may also be a key regulatory process in wound healing, as impairment of angiogenesis leads to delayed or unsuccessful wound healing (26).…”

Binding interaction between aloe polysaccharide and alizarin red by spectrophotometry and its analytical application

“…Of them, aloe polysaccharide (APS) is thought to be the most important component in the gel. It is APS that is responsible for aloe's antiinflammation and immunomodulating activities (Choi et al, 2001;Inan, Sen, Koca, Ergin, & Dener, 2007). Thus, APS has gradually attracted great scientific interest.…”