<i>Aloe vera</i>—Mechanisms of Action, Uses, and Potential Uses in Plastic Surgery and Wound Healing

Abstract

Aloe vera has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Clinical and experimental evidence indicates usefulness for skin moisturization, promoting wound healing, thermal skin injury, frostbite, and ischemic skin insults. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, antimicrobial, and proliferative actions, which have been investigated in various experimental models and in various in vitro studies. This extensive literature review of the properties and actions of Aloe vera finds substantial evidence for the reported and also likely clinical usefulness for Aloe vera in Plastic Surgery and in wound care and wound healing. Though further clinical investigation is warranted, Aloe vera use may likely be indicated in situations where its effects could positively influence outcomes, such as wound healing, flap vascularity, and inflammatory skin pathologies.

Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Amelioration of Wound Healing

“…Aloe vera leaves have been widely used from ancient times for the treatment of wound healing, burns, cuts and scars. Aloe vera gel is also used nowadays in numerous cosmetic preparations to prevent the wrinkles and healing of wounds [46,47]. It contains vitamins like vitamin A, E and C. The leaves of plant comprise flavonoids and polysaccharides such as aloesin (1), emodin (2), aloin (3), acemannan (4) and glucomannans (5) respectively [48,49].…”

“…In another approach 15 % w/w herbal extracts of plants were reducing the acute and chronic inflammation during wound dressing and also enhanced the collagen synthesis [144][145][146]. Structures of compounds (43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51) have been presented in (Figure 13) along with important key findings of mechanistic insights.…”

Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Medicinal Plants in Wound Healing: An Overview of Current Research

“…The mucilaginous gel has been extensively used in pharmacological and cosmetic applications [ 70 ]. It has more than 75 different compounds, including vitamins A, C, E, and B12, enzymes (amylase, catalase, and peroxidase), minerals (zinc, copper, selenium, and calcium), sugars (glucomannans, acetylated mannans, polymannans), polyphenols (anthraquinones), sterols (lupeol and campesterol), and hormones (auxins and gibberellins) [ 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Traditionally, the therapeutic uses of A. vera have ranged across a broad list of conditions, as do its associated pharmacological activities.…”

Characterization and Topical Study of Aloe Vera Hydrogel on Wound-Healing Process

“…For the water-swelling assay, three xerogel samples were cut into 3 pieces of 5 mm × 5 mm. A swelling study was conducted gravimetrically at room temperature using distilled water [7]. Finally, the samples were removed, and the swelling degree (%S) was calculated according to Equation (1).…”

“…In 2020, the global Aloe vera hydrogel market was valued at 649.41 million USD, with the pharmaceutical industry being the main end-user with 61% of consumption [5]. Aloe vera extracts are widely used to treat skin lesions due to their healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, vasodilatory, and antimicrobial properties [6][7][8][9][10]. The complex composition of the hydrogel includes about 75 potential compounds, including minerals and phenolics [5,11,12].…”