Aloe vera has been traditionally used to treat skin injuries (burns, cuts, insect bites, and eczemas) and digestive problems because its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. Research on this medicinal plant has been aimed at validating traditional uses and deepening the mechanism of action, identifying the compounds responsible for these activities. The most investigated active compounds are aloe-emodin, aloin, aloesin, emodin, and acemannan. Likewise, new actions have been investigated for Aloe vera and its active compounds. This review provides an overview of current pharmacological studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials), written in English during the last six years (2014–2019). In particular, new pharmacological data research has shown that most studies refer to anti-cancer action, skin and digestive protective activity, and antimicrobial properties. Most recent works are in vitro and in vivo. Clinical trials have been conducted just with Aloe vera, but not with isolated compounds; therefore, it would be interesting to study the clinical effect of relevant metabolites in different human conditions and pathologies. The promising results of these studies in basic research encourage a greater number of clinical trials to test the clinical application of Aloe vera and its main compounds, particularly on bone protection, cancer, and diabetes.

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/6/1324/pdf

Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents.

[Drug-induced cholestasis].

Cadmium exposure triggers mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in chicken (Gallus gallus) kidney via mitochondrial UPR inhibition and Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defense activation.

Cissus sicyoides (Vitaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly known in Brazil as "cipo-puca, anil-trepador, cortina, and insulina". The plant is used in several diseases, including rheumatism, epilepsy, stroke and also in the treatment of diabetes. In the present work, we studied the hypoglycemic and anti-lipemic effects of the aqueous extract prepared from fresh leaves of the plant (AECS), in the model of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. In addition, hepatic enzyme levels were also determined. Results showed that the daily treatment of diabetic rats with AECS for 7 days (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased blood glucose levels in 25 and 22% respectively, as compared to the same groups before AECS treatment. No significant changes were seen in control diabetic rats before (48 h after alloxan administration) and after distilled water treatment. While no changes were seen in total cholesterol levels, a significant decrease was observed in plasma triglyceride levels, in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats after AECS treatment with both doses, as compared to the same groups before treatment. Significant decreases in blood glucose (25%) and triglyceride levels (48%) were also observed in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats after 4 days treatment with AECS (200 mg/kg, p.o.). Aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferases levels, in diabetic controls and AECS-treated rats, were in the range of reference values presented by normal rats. The results justify the popular use of C. sicyoides, pointing out to the potential benefit of the plant aqueous extract (AECS) in alternative medicine, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

/pdf/hypoglycemic-and-anti-lipemic-effects-of-the-aqueous-extract-mbh7t7v8e6.pdf

Hypoglycemic and anti-lipemic effects of the aqueous extract from Cissus sicyoides

Anthraquinone compounds with the anthraquinone ring structure are widely found in traditional Chinese medicines and they are attracting a lot of attention due to their good pharmacological activity. Diversities of anthraquinones depend on their chemical structures, such as the number of anthraquinone rings and the substituents; what's more, the difference in chemical structure determines the difference in physiological activity. Based on results of previous studies, this review summarizes several natural anthraquinones identified from Chinese herbal medicines and their physiological activities including anti-cancer, anti-pathogenic microorganisms, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-osteoporosis, anti-depression, and anti-constipation. The source, effect, model, and action mechanism of the active anthraquinones are described in detail, from which their structure-activity relationship is summarized. By analyzing the relationship between anthraquinone structure and function, we found that, on the whole structure, the anthraquinone ring and anthraquinone glycosides have significant anticancer activity and anti-constipation activity, while for their substituents, anthraquinones substituted by alizarin have significant antioxidant activity and the polarity of the substituents is closely related to their antibacterial activities.

Health functions and structure-activity relationships of natural anthraquinones from plants.

Background Aloe-emodin is an anthraquinone with potential pharmacological properties, including numerous antitumor properties. The purpose of the study was to determine whether aloe-emodin induces mitotic death in cervical cancer cells. Materials and methods Analysis of morphological changes as surrogate mitotic death indicators in HeLa cells was carried out using optical, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay. Cell-cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry. Results Aloe-emodin increased the number of multinucleate cells, giant and micronuclear cells. There was a concentration-dependent decrease in the mitotic index with a predominance of cells in the metaphase of the mitotic process and inhibition of division in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The presence of cells with abnormal mitosis and cells with injury to the division spindle was also demonstrated. Conclusion Aloe-emodin induces mitotic catastrophe in cervical cancer cells.

Induction of Mitotic Catastrophe in Human Cervical Cancer Cells After Administration of Aloe-emodin.

Background: The extent of morphological and ultrastructural changes in HeLa cells was assessed by optical, fluorescence and electron microscopy after exposure to various concentrations of physcion, taking into account the biological properties of the test compound. Methods: Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while the cell cycle, LC3 expression, apoptosis, change of mitochondrial potential, Bcl-2 protein expression level and the level of reactive oxygen species were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: As a result of physcion encumbrance, concentration-dependent inhibition of HeLa cell viability and the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle was observed. Activation of the lysosomal system was also revealed, which was expressed by an increased number of lysosomes, autophage vacuoles and increased expression of the LC3 protein, a marker of the autophagy process. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy showed that physcion induced clear changes in cervical cancer cells, especially in the structure of the nucleus and mitochondria, which correlated with the production of reactive oxygen species by the test compound and indicated the induction of the oxidative process. At the same time, the pro-apoptotic effect of physcion was demonstrated, and this mechanism was dependent on the activation of caspases 3/7 and the reduction in Bcl-2 protein expression. Conclusion: The obtained results indicate an antitumor mechanism of action of physcion, based on the induction of oxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis.

Physcion Induces Potential Anticancer Effects in Cervical Cancer Cells.

Lysosomes are organelles containing acidic hydrolases that are responsible for lysosomal degradation and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. They play an important role in autophagy, as well as in various cell death pathways, such as lysosomal and apoptotic death. Various agents, including drugs, can induce lysosomal membrane permeability, resulting in the translocation of acidic hydrolases into the cytoplasm, which promotes lysosomal-mediated death. This type of death may be of great importance in anti-cancer therapy, as both cancer cells with disturbed pathways leading to apoptosis and drug-resistant cells can undergo it. Important compounds that damage the lysosomal membrane include lysosomotropic compounds, antihistamines, immunosuppressants, DNA-damaging drugs, chemotherapeutics, photosensitizers and various plant compounds. An interesting approach in the treatment of cancer and the search for ways to overcome the chemoresistance of cancer cells may also be combining lysosomotropic compounds with targeted modulators of autophagy to induce cell death. These compounds may be an alternative in oncological treatment, and lysosomes may become a promising therapeutic target for many diseases, including cancer. Understanding the functional relationships between autophagy and apoptosis and the possibilities of their regulation, both in relation to normal and cancer cells, can be used to develop new and more effective anticancer therapies.

/pdf/lysosomes-as-a-target-of-anticancer-therapy-3v9e46lf.pdf

Lysosomes as a Target of Anticancer Therapy

Background An example of plant-derived compounds that may be of great importance in oncological therapy is emodin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the range of changes in the lysosomal compartment of HeLa cervical cancer cells treated with emodin. Materials and methods Changes in the lysosomal compartment were evaluated using microscopic techniques. In order to evaluate the activity of lysosomal enzymes and the permeability of the lysosomal membrane, a spectrophotometric technique was employed. Results Emodin induced significant changes in the lysosomal compartment, manifesting as an increase in the number of lysosomes, autophagic vacuoles and the activity of lysosomal hydrolases. Emodin exhibited cytotoxic activity against lysosomes through lysosomal membrane damage with possible leaks of lysosomal hydrolases into the cytoplasm. Conclusion Emodin induces degradation processes and promotes the death of tumor cells through a mechanism that occurs with clear involvement of the lysosomal compartment.

/pdf/changes-in-the-lysosomal-system-of-cervical-cancer-cells-3sjw0b8sbp.pdf

Changes in the Lysosomal System of Cervical Cancer Cells Induced by Emodin Action.

Background Anthraquinones, including emodin, are compounds with numerous pharmacological properties, including anticancer properties. The aim of this study experiment was to examine the effect of emodin, a natural compound present in the roots and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum, on the induction of mitotic catastrophe in cervical cancer cells. Material and methods HeLa celIs were treated with different emodin concentrations for 48 h, and cell growth was measured with 3-(4-,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolyl. The cell-cycle distribution and the level of apoptosis were determined by means of flow cytometry, using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate staining and propidium iodide. Morphological changes in the mitotic apparatus were evaluated using optical and confocal microscopy techniques. Results Emodin induced an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear cells, giant cells, cells with micronuclei, cells with abnormal mitosis and damaged spindle. The reorganization of F-actin depended on the concentration of emodin. With the increase in emodin concentration, inhibition of mitotic activity was demonstrated, which was manifested by a decrease in the mitotic index, mainly in metaphase of the mitotic process and an increase in the number of cells inhibited in the G2/M phase. At the same time, an increase in the number of apoptotic cells was found. Conclusion Emodin leads to death of cervical cancer cells by induction of a mitotic catastrophe.

Emodin Induces Death in Human Cervical Cancer Cells Through Mitotic Catastrophe.

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