Frågedatum: 2002-03-25
RELIS database 2002; id.nr. 18044, DRUGLINE
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Is there any documentation on the effects of Aloe vera in the treatment of asthma?/nA woman with cy



Fråga: Is there any documentation on the effects of Aloe vera in the treatment of asthma?

A woman with cystic fibrosis and asthma drinks large volumes of Aloe Vera juice and feels that her asthma has been better. Also her PEF (peak expiratory flow) values have improved.

Sammanfattning: The documentation on the effects of Aloe vera extracts on asthma is sparse. Two in vitro studies have reported enhanced phagocytosis of neutrophils from adult asthmatic patients following incubation with aloe extract. No solid data support the use of Aloe vera extract in asthma patients.

Svar: Aloe vera refers to the mucilaginous tissue located in the leaf parenchyma of Aloe vera or related Aloe species (1). Aloe vera is reported to contain mono- and polysaccarides, tannins, sterols, organic acids, enzymes (including cyclooxygenase), saponins, vitamins, and minerals (1). The product is available as gel preparations for topical use and as juice for per oral administration (2).

A thorough literature search revealed two in vitro studies on neutrophils from adult bronchial asthma and Aloe vera extract. In both studies, aloe samples consisting of a mixture of polysaccharide and protein or glycoprotein were reported to enhance the activity of phagocytosis of neutrophils from adult asthmatic patients (3,4). In addition, a clinical study involving 33 patiens, showed that oral administration of an Aloe extract for six month showed efficiacy in 11 out of 27 chronic asthmatic patients who had not received prior treatment with corticosteroids. In contrast, the extract was not efficacious at all in patients (n=6) who had previously been treated with corticosteroids (4). However, since there were no placebo or control groups and the efficacy assessment was based on the patients´ impressions and physicians´ observations, the clinical value of this study is limited. It has been reported that cyclooxygenases in Aloe vera convert endogenous arachidonate to various prostanoids, including PGE2, which has been associated with the benificial effect on human bronchial asthma (1).

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