Aloe barbadensis (Miller), Aloe vera, has a long history of use as a topical and oral therapeutic. The plant is the source of two products, gel and latex, which are obtained from its fleshy leaves. Aloe vera products contain multiple constituents with potential biological and toxicological activities, yet the active components elude definition. Ingestion of Aloe vera is associated with diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, kidney dysfunction, and conventional drug interactions; episodes of contact dermatitis, erythema, and phototoxicity have been reported from topical applications. This review examines the botany, physical and chemical properties, and biological activities of the Aloe vera plant.

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An evaluation of the biological and toxicological properties of Aloe barbadensis (miller), Aloe vera.

Emodin blocks the SARS coronavirus spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interaction.

A review on the relationship between aloe vera components and their biologic effects

Emodin is a natural anthraquinone derivative that occurs in many widely used Chinese medicinal herbs, such as Rheum palmatum, Polygonum cuspidatum and Polygonum multiflorum Emodin has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years and is still present in various herbal preparations Emerging evidence indicates that emodin possesses a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including anticancer, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities However, emodin could also lead to hepatotoxicity, kidney toxicity and reproductive toxicity, particularly in high doses and with long-term use Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that emodin has poor oral bioavailability in rats because of its extensive glucuronidation This review aims to comprehensively summarize the pharmacology, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of emodin reported to date with an emphasis on its biological properties and mechanisms of action Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ptr.5631

Aloe‐emodin: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics

https://aloearborescens.tripod.com/aloe-apoptosi-epatoma.pdf

The antiproliferative activity of aloe-emodin is through p53-dependent and p21-dependent apoptotic pathway in human hepatoma cell lines

Aloe contains several active compounds including aloin, a C-glycoside that can be hydrolyzed in the gut to form aloe-emodin anthrone which, in turn, is auto-oxidized to the quinone aloe-emodin. On the basis of the claimed hepatoprotective activity of some antraquinones, we studied aloe-emodin in a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) intoxication, since this xenobiotic induces acute liver damage by lipid peroxidation subsequent to free radical production. Twelve rats were treated with CCl 4 (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and six were protected with two intraperitoneally injections of aloe-emodin (50 mg/kg: CCl 4 +aloe-emodin); six other rats were only aloe-emodin injected (aloe-emodin) and six were untreated (control). Histological examination of the livers showed less marked lesions in the CCl 4 +aloe-emodin rats than in those treated with CCl 4 alone, and this was confirmed by the serum levels of L-aspartate-2-oxoglutate-aminotransferase (394±38.6 UI/l in CCl 4 , 280±24.47 UI/l in CCl 4 +aloe-emodin rats; P<0.05). We also quantified changes in hepatic albumin and tumour necrosis factor-a mRNAs. Albumin mRNA expression was significantly lower only in the liver of CCl 4 rats (P<0.05 versus control) and was only slightly reduced in the CCl 4 +aloe-emodin rats. In contrast tumour necrosis factor-a mRNA was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the CCl 4 than the control rats and almost equal in the CCl 4 +aloe-emodin, aloe-emodin and control groups. In conclusion, aloe-emodin appears to have some protective effect not only against hepatocyte death but also on the inflammatory response subsequent to lipid peroxidation.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1034/j.1600-0773.2000.pto870507.x

Lorena Maria Pia Fusaro

Papers

Aloe-Emodin quinone pretreatment reduces acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Aloe-Emodin Quinone Pretreatment Reduces Acute Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride: ALOE-EMODIN PROTECTION FROM LIVER INJURY