Aloe Vera To Treat Gastrointestinal Problems
Bland J
Journal of Alterative Medicine, 1985
Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., formerly of the Linus Pauling Institute, reported using a concentrate of Aloe vera to treat gastrointestinal problems. The objectives of Dr. Bland’s study were “to evaluate the effect of oral Aloe vera juice supplementation of gastric pH, stool specific gravity, protein digestion/absorption, and stool microbiology” and found that it could be used in “the treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders.”
In his patient application studies of ten healthy subjects (five women and five men), Dr. Bland first found that the Aloe vera juice provided caused his subjects no covert or overt adverse effects and was in general “well tolerated” by all ten people in the study group. In his study of five women and five men, Dr. Bland was careful to note that: “...with the taking of two-ounce increments [of the Aloe vera juice] three times daily for seven days no patient among the... (five men, five women) complained of diarrhea... four of the subjects reported improved bowel regularity with greater gastrointestinal comfort after eating... three indicated an enhancement of energy and a greater sense of well being...”
Additionally, he reported that: “The function of Aloe vera juice in promoting proper gastrointestinal function based upon the information from this preliminary study may be to regulate gastrointestinal pH while improving gastrointestinal motility, increasing stool specific gravity and reducing the populations of certain fecal micro-organisms, including yeast [Candida albicans]. This could have significant advantages to some individuals by promoting proper dietary protein digestion and absorption and reducing bowel putrefactive processes in the colon.”
Studies Of Aloe III. Mechanism Of Cathartic Effect
Ishil Y; Tanizawa H; Takino Y
School Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univeristy Of Shizuoka
Chem Pharm Bull Jan. 1990, 38(1) p197-200
The mechanism of action of Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone, a decomposition product of barbaloin, in causing a significant increase in the water content of the rat large intestine, was investigated. Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone inhibited rat colonic Na+, K(+)-ade-nosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in vitro, and incraesed the paracellular permeability across the rat colonic mucosa in vivo. Therefore, it seemed that the increase in water content of the rate large intestine produced by Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone was due to both inhibition of absorption and stimulation of secretion without stimulation of peristalsis. Furthermore, pretreatment with loperamide, an antidiarrheal agent, completely prevented the increase of paracellular permeability induced by Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone but did not completely reduce the concomitant incraese in residual fluid volume. These findings suggest that Aloe-emodin-9-anthrone has multiple mechanisms of action involved in the increase of water content in the rate large intestine.
Aloe Vera Controls The Amount Of Juice & Neutralizes Acidity
Prof. Hisayuki Yazawa and his group at Shizuoka Medical College witnessed an increase in the amount of gastric juice and gastric acid discharge by use of barbaloin.
Again, Dr. Bland at Science and Medicine Inst., California testified that oral administration of Aloe vera controls the amount of juice and neutralizes acidity. He verified also that Aloe vera can balance the amount between bacteria in the digestive tracts, and help protein digestion.
Biotransformation Of Aloenin, A Bitter Glucoside Constituent Of Aloe Arborescens By Rats
Hirata T; Sakano S; Suga T
Experientia 37(12):1252-3 1981 Dec 15
Aloenin has been established to be 4-methoxy-6-(2-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxy-6-methylphenyl)-2-pyrone; it shows an inhibitory activity for gastric juice secretion. Rats metabolized it to 4-methoxy-6-(2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylphenyl)-2-pyrone, 2,5-dimethyl-7-hydroxychromone and glucose, which were excreted in the feces and the urine. The distribution of the radioactivity originating from 14C-labeled aloenin was studied. The tracer found in the kidney and the liver reached 60% of the amount administered 24 h after feeding and decreased rapidly in the next 24h.
Effect Of A Plant Extract Combination Preparation On Gastrointestinal Transit Time & Bile Acid Excretion
Matzkies F; Webs B
Fortschr Med 101(27-28):1304-6 1983 Jul 28
The effect of a plant extract containing Rhizoma curcumae, Fructus silybi mariani, Herba chelidonii, Aloe, Radix podophylli paltati, Radix gentianae and Cortex chinae on the evacuation of feces and on the metabolism of bile acids was investigated with 8 healthy women for a period of 14 days. In the preliminary period there was a stoolweight of 105 +/- 16 g/day. Under treatment the weight of stool rose to 422 +/- 104 g/day. Frequency of stools increased from 1.1 +/- 0.2 evacuations/day to 3.3 +/- 1.1 evacuation/day. Transit time decreased from 64 +/- 20 hours to 18 +/- 4 hours. Elimination of bile acid amounted to 549 +/- 397 mumol/day. It increased under treatment to 908 +/- 832 mumol/day. No changes were found in the laboratory blood tests. The concentration of potassium in the blood also remained constant.
A Double-Blind Trial Of A Celandin, Aloe Vera & PsylliumLaxative Preparation In Adult Patients With Constipation
Odes HS; Madar Z
Intestinal Diseases Unit, Soroka Medical Center
Digestion 49(2):65-71 1991
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a novel laxative preparation, composed of celandin, Aloe vera and psyllium in patients with chronic constipation. Thirty-five men and women were randomized to receive capsules containing celandin-Aloe vera-psyllium, or placebo, in a double-blind trial lasting 28 days. Symptoms in the last 2 weeks of the treatment period were compared to those in the 14-day pre-trial basal period. In the celandin, Aloe vera and psyllium group, bowel movements became more frequent, the stools were softer and laxative dependence was reduced. In the placebo group, all these parameters were unchanged. Abdominal pain was not reduced in either group. The results of this study show that the preparation is an effective laxative in the treatment of constipation.
Biologically Active Constituents Of Leaves & Roots Of Aloe Arborescens Var. Natalensis
Hirata T; Suga T
Z Naturforsch [C], 32(9-10):731-4 1977 Sep-Oct
Several biologically active substances, such as aloenin (1), magnesium lactate, Aloe-emodin (4), barbaloin (5), and succinic acid, were found to be contained in the leaf juice of Aloe arborescens Mill. var. natalensis Berger, which has widely been used in domestic medicines. Aloenin (1) and magnesium lactate were elucidated to exhibit an inhibitory action on the gastric juice secretion of rats. Various constituents other than the above bioactive substances were found in the leaves and the roots of the plant.
Effects Of Aloe Extracts, Aloctin A, On Gastric Secretion & On Experimental Gastric Lesions In Rats
Saito H; Imanishi K; Okabe S
Yakugaku Zasshi 109(5):335-9 1989 May
Effect of aloctin A, glycoprotein isolated from leaves of Aloe arborescens MILL, on gastric secretion and on acute gastric lesions in rats were examined. Aloctin A given intravenously dose-dependently inhibited the volume of gastric juice, acid and pepsin output in pylorus-ligated rats. Aloctin A given intravenously significantly inhibited the development of Shay ulcers and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats. It also inhibited water-immersion stress lesions induced in pylorus-ligated rats.
