360
18.5.8 Immunomodulatory Activity
Aloe has been used for its immunomodulatory properties as the plant has been
studied to enhance immune responses and strengthening the immune system. In a
study, rats were administered with cancerous agents before administering with
aloe. It was observed that there was an increase in production and release of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor which caused the necrosis of the cancerous cells.
Acemannan a polysaccharide was found to cause such immune mediated response
(Sahu et al. 2013).
18.5.9 Antidiabetic Activity of Phytochemicals from Genus
Aloe
Medicinal plants or natural products are source of bioactive compounds which minimise adverse effects and offer promising efficient drugs with low cost. The plants
that belong to genus Aloe contains numerous phytochemicals that can be extracted
via aqueous, alcohol (Nejatzadeh-Barandozi 2013) and chloroform as solvent
(Raphael 2012). Tannin, saponin, flavonoids, and terpenoids are the most significant
phytochemicals that are present almost in all the plants of genus Aloe, irrespective
of their species (Arunkumar and Muthuselvam 2009). Other than these phytochemicals, these plants contain lectins, fatty acids, chromones, anthraquinones, cholesterol, mono and polysaccharides, sterols, choline, aloetinic acid, sapogenins, choline
salicylate and complex mucopolysaccharides. In addition, they also possess amino
acids such as serine, aspartic acid, arginine, glutamic acid and arparagine, as well as
vitamins, namely folic acid, β-carotene, B1, B2, B6, C, α-tocopherol and mannose
6-phosphate as predominant sugar component (Joseph and Justin Raj 2010). Several
literatures reported that the phytochemicals extracted from genus Aloe are highly
beneficial as an antidiabetic agent to reduce serum glucose, cholesterol level and
enhance wound healing process in diabetic patients. However, their antidiabetic
effect is based on the plant part where the phytochemicals are extracted, which
directly correlates with the quantity of extracted phytochemicals and solvent used in
the extraction process (Singh et al. 2010).
Research findings indicate that leaf latex extract of A. megalacantha exhibit significant antihyperglycemic activities in STZ-induced diabetic mice. This plant ameliorates diabetes and its related complications. A. megalacantha is showed to
improve parameters like body weight, hypoglycemic activity, oral glucose tolerance, antioxidant potential and lipid profile (Hammeso et al. 2019). In vitro and
in vivo studies established that the water soluble fraction of Aloe species possesses
some components that can modulate glucose transporter-4 mRNA expression along
with glucose-lowering activities (Kumar et al. 2011).
High priority research includes plant derived various naturally active ingredients
used in the treatment of diabetes viz. A. vera is considered as an antidiabetic agent.
C. Egbuna et al.
18.5.8 Immunomodulatory Activity
Aloe has been used for its immunomodulatory properties as the plant has been
studied to enhance immune responses and strengthening the immune system. In a
study, rats were administered with cancerous agents before administering with
aloe. It was observed that there was an increase in production and release of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor which caused the necrosis of the cancerous cells.
Acemannan a polysaccharide was found to cause such immune mediated response
(Sahu et al. 2013).
18.5.9 Antidiabetic Activity of Phytochemicals from Genus
Aloe
Medicinal plants or natural products are source of bioactive compounds which minimise adverse effects and offer promising efficient drugs with low cost. The plants
that belong to genus Aloe contains numerous phytochemicals that can be extracted
via aqueous, alcohol (Nejatzadeh-Barandozi 2013) and chloroform as solvent
(Raphael 2012). Tannin, saponin, flavonoids, and terpenoids are the most significant
phytochemicals that are present almost in all the plants of genus Aloe, irrespective
of their species (Arunkumar and Muthuselvam 2009). Other than these phytochemicals, these plants contain lectins, fatty acids, chromones, anthraquinones, cholesterol, mono and polysaccharides, sterols, choline, aloetinic acid, sapogenins, choline
salicylate and complex mucopolysaccharides. In addition, they also possess amino
acids such as serine, aspartic acid, arginine, glutamic acid and arparagine, as well as
vitamins, namely folic acid, β-carotene, B1, B2, B6, C, α-tocopherol and mannose
6-phosphate as predominant sugar component (Joseph and Justin Raj 2010). Several
literatures reported that the phytochemicals extracted from genus Aloe are highly
beneficial as an antidiabetic agent to reduce serum glucose, cholesterol level and
enhance wound healing process in diabetic patients. However, their antidiabetic
effect is based on the plant part where the phytochemicals are extracted, which
directly correlates with the quantity of extracted phytochemicals and solvent used in
the extraction process (Singh et al. 2010).
Research findings indicate that leaf latex extract of A. megalacantha exhibit significant antihyperglycemic activities in STZ-induced diabetic mice. This plant ameliorates diabetes and its related complications. A. megalacantha is showed to
improve parameters like body weight, hypoglycemic activity, oral glucose tolerance, antioxidant potential and lipid profile (Hammeso et al. 2019). In vitro and
in vivo studies established that the water soluble fraction of Aloe species possesses
some components that can modulate glucose transporter-4 mRNA expression along
with glucose-lowering activities (Kumar et al. 2011).
High priority research includes plant derived various naturally active ingredients
used in the treatment of diabetes viz. A. vera is considered as an antidiabetic agent.
C. Egbuna et al.