title: Fractionation of Aloe vera L. inner gel, purification and molecular profiling of activity.
abstract: Products derived from the inner gel of the Aloe vera L. plant have demonstrated multiple clinical activities, and are used routinely to accelerate wound healing. However, typical of natural products, the complex nature of Aloe vera gels may contribute to diverse pharmacologic activities. Our focus on the hematopoietic activities of Aloe vera extracts is extended by these functional studies, which used purified fractions from Aloe vera gel and included a preliminary organ-specific in vitro molecular profile. Studies using a >99% pure carbohydrate fraction from Aloe vera extracts revealed increased hematopoietic and hematologic activity compared to the starting material. In addition, this fraction differentially regulated liver and lung cytokine mRNA levels, resulting in significant increases in message for hematopoietic cytokines [granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and stem cell factor (SCF)]. This profile of activity differed from another fraction obtained from Aloe vera, suggesting the potential for diverse pharmacologic activity. The molecular studies were undertaken using co-cultures of organ slices to limit the amount of purified material required. In summary, these studies revealed significant hematopoietic activity by both pharmacologic and molecular analysis using a >99% pure carbohydrate fraction from Aloe vera gels.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 987660 Nebraska Medical Center, South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE 68198-7660, USA. jtalmadg@unmc.edu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Talmadge
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Munger
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chinnah
authors.forename: Jimmy T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yates
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D020100:Hydrogels; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D020100:Hydrogels; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008351:Mannans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C058414:acemannan