Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza,

Lissoni P., Gianni L., Zerbini S., Trabattoni P., Rovelli F., divisione di radiologia oncologica

"Questo studio preliminare suggerisce che una terapia naturale per il cancro con melatonina ed estratto di aloe vera può produrre benefici terapeutici, almeno quanto a stabilizzazione della malattia e sopravvivenza, nei pazienti con tumori solidi incurabili, per i quali nessuna altra terapia è disponibile", 1998.

Padre Romano Zago, ordine dei frati minori, 10 anni di esperienze

Inoltre non dobbiamo dimenticare l'esperienza più che decennale, che secondo me è la più importante di tutte, del frate Padre Romano Zago. Egli ha guarito centinaia di persone, anche casi terminali incurabili, con l'aloe arborescens e l'ha sperimentata per ben 10 anni (lo stesso tempo che mette un'azienda farmaceutica per sperimentare un qualsiasi farmaco prima di metterlo in commercio). Ora, non so voi, ma io mi fido molto di più di un frate missionario (non ho detto prete, ma frate missionario !) che non di un'equipe farmaceutica, con incredibili interessi miliardari. Non ci vuole una laurea in medicina per capire se una persona, a cui i medici hanno dato pochissimi mesi di vita, a un certo punto guarisce, si alza dal letto e riprende la vita normale. Considerate che quest'esperienza lui l'ha vissuta centinaia di volte in 10 anni e capirete perchè vale immensamente di più di qualsiasi medico che, non avendo provato nulla e non conoscendo nulla sull'aloe e sui malati, afferma che l'aloe non serve a niente e che addirittura è "impossibile" che possa avere un qualche effetto. Non capisco come si possa affermarlo senza prove, anche dal punto di vista morale è un assurdo negare l'efficacia senza prima avere conferme che non possa essere utile. Per cui se il vostro medico vi dice che l'aloe non può avere effetto o non si è informato bene oppure è un'ipocrita.

Studi riguardanti gli effetti dell'aloe sulla cura dei carcinomi su persone e animali

Chemopreventive effects of Aloe arborescens on N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in hamsters.

Furukawa F, Nishikawa A, Chihara T, Shimpo K, Beppu H, Kuzuya H, Lee IS, Hirose M. Division of Pathology, Biological Safety Research Center, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, 158-8501, Tokyo, Japan

The modification effects of freeze-dried aloe (Aloe arborescens) whole leaf powder during the initiation phase of carcinogenesis were investigated in hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). Female Syrian hamsters were given four weekly subcutaneous injections of BOP at a dose of 10mg/kg and then given 0, 1 or 5% aloe in their diet for 5 weeks. At week 54 of the experiment, all surviving animals were sacrificed and development of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions was assessed histopathologically. The incidences of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, atypical hyperplasias or total atypical hyperplasias plus adenocarcinomas were significantly (P<0.05) decreased with BOP+5% aloe, and that of adenocarcinomas were also significantly (P<0.05) reduced in the BOP+1% aloe as compared to the BOP alone group. Multiplicities of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, atypical hyperplasias or total lesions were also significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) lower in the BOP+5% aloe group than with the BOP alone. Quantitative data for neoplastic lesions in the lung, liver, gall bladder, kidney and urinary bladder of hamsters were not significantly different among the three groups. In a satellite experiment, pretreatment with aloe significantly (P<0.01) reduced the formation of O(6)-methyldeoxyguanosine in epithelial cells of pancreatic ducts as compared to the BOP alone value. Our results thus indicate that aloe prevents BOP-induced pancreatic neoplasia in hamsters in relation to decreased DNA adduct formation in the target tissue. PMID: 11867195

Inhibition of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci formation in rat colorectum by whole leaf Aloe arborescens Miller var. natalensis Berger.

Shimpo K, Chihara T, Beppu H, Ida C, Kaneko T, Nagatsu T, Kuzuya H. Fujita Memorial Institute of Pharmacognosy, Fujita Health University, Hisai, Mie 514-1296, Japan.

We examined the modifying effect of whole-leaf Aloe arborescens Miller var. natalensis Berger (designated as 'ALOE') on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF), putative preneoplastic lesions, in the rat colorectum. Male F344 rats (4 weeks old) were fed the basal diet, or experimental diets containing 1% or 5% ALOE for 5 weeks. One week later, all rats except those in the vehicle-treated groups were injected s.c. with AOM (15 mg/kg, once weekly for 3 weeks). At 9 weeks of age, all the rats were killed, and the colorectum and liver were evaluated for ACF and cytosolic quinone reductase (QR; a phase 2 enzyme), respectively. In rats given AOM and ALOE (1% or 5% in diet) the numbers of ACF/colorectum, aberrant crypts/colorectum, aberrant crypts/focus and large ACF/colorectum were significantly decreased compared with those of rats given AOM alone (all p < 0.01). No ACF were found in rats treated without AOM. In addition, ALOE significantly increased cytosolic QR activity in the liver (p < 0.01). These results indicated that ALOE inhibited the development of AOM-induced ACF in the rat colorectum, with increased QR activity in the liver, and therefore suggested that ALOE might have a chemopreventive effect against colon carcinogenesis at least in the initiation stage. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. PMID: 11746864

Effects and mechanisms of aloe-emodin on cell death in human lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Lee HZ, Hsu SL, Liu MC, Wu CH. School of Pharmacy, China Medical College, 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. hong@mail.cmc.edu.tw

Aloe-emodin (1,8-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)-anthraquinone) is an active component from the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum. The study investigated the effects and mechanisms of aloe-emodin-induced cell death in human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line CH27. Aloe-emodin (40 microM)-induced CH27 cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladders and sub-G(1) formation). Aloe-emodin-induced apoptosis of CH27 cells involved modulation of the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, such as BclX(L), Bag-1, and Bak, and was associated with the translocation of Bak and Bax from cytosolic to particulate fractions. Aloe-emodin-treated CH27 cells had an increased relative abundance of cytochrome c in the cytosolic fraction. Results demonstrated that the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 is an important determinant of apoptotic death induced by aloe-emodin. These results suggest that aloe-emodin induces CH27 cell death by the Bax and Fas death pathway. PMID: 11730720

Cytotoxic and DNA damage-inducing activities of low molecular weight phenols from rhubarb.

Shi YQ, Fukai T, Sakagami H, Kuroda J, Miyaoka R, Tamura M, Yoshida N, Nomura T. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.

Six new phenol (anthraquinone or stilbene) glycosides with an acyl group at 6-position of the glucopyranose moiety were isolated from rhubarb (the roots of Rheum palmatum) cultivated in Japan, together with 22 known compounds. Most of these compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against tumor and normal cells and for induction of DNA damage by spore rec-assay. Among them, emodin and aloe-emodin showed higher cytotoxic activities against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) and salivary gland tumor (HSG) cell lines than against normal human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Chrysophanol 8-O-beta-(6'-acetyl)glucopyranoside, 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone 4'-O-beta-D-(2"-O-galloyl-6"-O-cinnamoyl) glucopyranoside, and 6"-O-(4'''-hydroxybenzoyl) resveratroloside exhibited relatively higher cytotoxic activities against all these cells. The other glycosides of anthraquinone or stilbene showed weaker cytotoxic activity against these tumor cell lines, but may be considered as cancer chemopreventive agents. Spore rec-assay with a recombination deficient mutant of Bacillus subtilis M45 demonstrated the DNA damage-inducing activity of emodin and aloe-emodin 15-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside among, rhubarb phenols. PMID: 11724365

Protein kinase C involvement in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis in lung carcinoma cell.

Lee HZ. School of Pharmacy, China Medical College, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. hong@mail.cmc.edu.tw

1. This study demonstrated aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis in lung carcinoma cell lines CH27 (human lung squamous carcinoma cell) and H460 (human lung non-small cell carcinoma cell). Aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis was characterized by nuclear morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. 2. During apoptosis, an increase in cytochrome c of cytosolic fraction and activation of caspase-3, identified by the cleavage of its proform, were observed. 3. To elucidate whether the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes are involved in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis, this study examined the changes of PKC isozymes by Western blotting techniques during aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis. 4. The expression of PKC isozymes involved in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis of CH27 and H460 cells. In this study, aloe-emodin and emodin induced the changes of each of PKC isozymes in CH27 and H460 cells. 5. The decrease in the expression of PKC delta and epsilon may play a critical role in aloe-emodin- and emodin-induced apoptosis in CH27 and H460 cells. 6. The present study also demonstrated that PKC stimulation occurs at a site downstream of caspase-3 in the emodin-mediated apoptotic pathway. PMID: 11682458

Studio sull'azione benefica generale dell'aloe contro i tumori

Chemomodulatory action of Aloe vera on the profiles of enzymes associated with carcinogen metabolism and antioxidant status regulation in mice.

Singh RP, Dhanalakshmi S, Rao AR. Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

The effect of two doses (30 microl and 60 microl/day/mice daily for 14 days) of the fresh leaf pulp extract of Aloe vera was examined on carcinogen-metabolizing phase-I and phase-II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice. The modulatory effect of the pulp extract was also examined on extrahepatic organs (lung, kidney and forestomach) for the activities of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diophorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. The positive control mice were treated with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Significant increases in the levels of acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) content, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed in the liver. Aloe vera significantly reduced the levels of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5. Thus, Aloe vera is clearly an inducer of phase-II enzyme system. Treatment with both doses of Aloe caused a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the liver, suggesting its role in protection against prooxidant-induced membrane and cellular damage. The microsomal and cytosolic protein was significantly enhanced by Aloe vera, indicating the possibility of its involvement in the induction of protein synthesis. BHA, an antioxidant compound, provided the authenticity of our assay protocol and response of animals against modulator. The pulp extract was effective in inducing GST, DTD, SOD and catalase as measured in extrahepatic organs. Thus, besides liver, other organs (lung, kidney and forestomach) were also influenced favorably by Aloe vera in order to detoxify reactive metabolites, including chemical carcinogens and drugs. PMID: 11185732

Studies of aloe. VI. Cathartic effect of isobarbaloin.

Ishii Y, Takino Y, Toyo'oka T, Tanizawa H. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan.

The cathartic effect of isobarbaloin, a stereoisomer of barbaloin (compound principally responsible for the cathartic activity of Aloe), was examined in male rats by oral administration. Individual differences in sensitivity in the laxative activity of isobarbaloin and barbaloin was not found. The cathartic activity (ED50) of isobarbaloin in barbaloin positive rats was 19.2 mg/kg, nearly equal to that of barbaloin (19.5 mg/kg). Also, isobarbaloin administered orally was demonstrated to decompose to aloe-emodin-9-anthrone (active metabolite of barbaloin) as well as to barbaloin. Therefore, it is considered that the mechanism underlying the cathartic effect of isobarbaloin is the same as that of barbaloin. PMID: 9853419

Gribrel N.V.: Proprietà anti-metastatiche del succo di aloe, Onkol, 32, pp 38-40, 1986

Hoeji, Effetti anticancro dell'aloe sui sarcomi 180 in ICR topi e sulle cellule tumorali umane 38, pp.: 311-321, 1994

Kupchan SM: Aloe-emodina, inibitore dei tumori: antileucemia, principio isolato da Rhamnus Frangula L., 39, pp 223-224, 1976

Rolamboranto L.: Proprietà immunomodulanti di un estratto isolato e parzialmente purificato di aloe

Vahombe, studio di proprietà antitumorali e contributo alla natura chimica e principio attivo, Arch. Inst. Pasteur Madagascar, 50 (1), pp. 227-256, 1982.

Cancro Aloe Arborescens Romano Zago