Potential protective effects of Aloe vera gel on cardiovascular diseases: A mini‐review

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality in both men and women worldwide. CVDs are associated with several risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, tobacco smoking and an unhealthy diet. Currently, in addition to the use of related pharmacological treatments in the management of CVDs, the investigation of other suitable healthcare approaches for these disorders such as the identification of herbal medicines has been considered in the scientific communities. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a perennial medicinal plant. The innermost leaf layer of this plant contains transparent gel, which is used as food. Pre-clinical studies have shown several biological activities of A. vera gel (AVG), including antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. Other pharmacological activities of AVG such as anti-fibrotic, anti-hypertensive, and antiatherosclerotic effects have been reported. Moreover, several clinical studies have demonstrated the ameliorating effects of AVG on some markers of CVDs risk factors.Thus, this study was conducted to review clinical trials besides in vitro and in vivo studies on the cardiac beneficial effects of AVG. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the plant.

The effect of a standardized capsule of Aloe vera gel on the quality of life in patients with systolic heart failure: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial

“…Previous studies have shown that AVG is safe to use (Sabbaghzadegan et al, 2021; Sehgal et al, 2013; Staff, 2011; Vogler & Ernst, 1999). In this study, AVG was well tolerated among HF patients.…”

“…Some properties of AVG, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrotic, anti‐hypertensive and antiatherosclerotic activities, can possess direct cardioprotective effects. It can also indirectly show cardiobeneficial effects, by influencing some risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperlipidemia (Jain et al, 2010; Kumar et al, 2007; Sabbaghzadegan et al, 2021; Sumi et al, 2019; Yang et al, 2017).…”

“…Furthermore, AVG does not contain anthraquinones, which are responsible for the laxative results of aloes (e.g., the potential for anthraquinones to interact with the action of cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic medications). Moreover, in vitro and in vivo toxicologic evaluations indicated that AVG derived from its inner leaf layer was not genotoxic or toxic and did not cause significant adverse effects (Sabbaghzadegan et al, 2021; Sehgal et al, 2013; Vogler & Ernst, 1999). Consequently, it seems that AVG may be suitable in cardiac dysfunction as an adjuvant treatment.…”

“…Dry matter of AVG contains polysaccharides (55%), sugars (17%), minerals (16%), proteins (7%), lipids (4%) and phenolic compounds (1%) (Ahlawat & Khatkar, 2011). Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the cardiobeneficial effects of AVG (Sabbaghzadegan et al, 2021). AVG at 200 mg/kg had significant antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-diabetic activities in diabetic rats (Jain et al, 2010).…”

Chemical structures, biological activities, and medicinal potentials of amine compounds detected from Aloe species

“…This is because amine vitamins detected in Aloe species are among the water-soluble vitamins that are required for performing specific cellular functions, such as being precursors for coenzymes in the enzymes of intermediary metabolism (Alamgir, 2018). Table 6 summarizes the deficiency of amine vitamins (Kraemer et al, 2012;Griffiths, 2020;Taguchi, 2023) and treated diseases due to the presence of these vitamins, which have various biological effects (Channa et al, 2014;Akaberi et al, 2016;Belayneh et al, 2020;Ahluwalia et al, 2021;Sabbaghzadegan et al, 2021;Taqui et al, 2022). Specific mammalian body systems treated by therapeutic activities Aloe species.…”