Feeding mice with Aloe vera gel diminishes L-1 sarcoma-induced early neovascular response and tumor growth

Abstract

Aloe vera (Aloe arborescens, aloe barbadensis) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Liliaceae family. Aloe vera gel prepared from the inner part of Aloe leaves is increasingly consumed as a beverage dietary supplement. Some data suggest its tumor growth modulatory properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in Balb/c mice the in vivo influence of orally administered Aloe vera drinking gel on the syngeneic L-1 sarcoma tumor growth and its vascularization: early cutaneous neovascular response, tumor-induced angiogenesis (TIA test read after 3 days), and tumor hemoglobin content measured 14 days after L-1 sarcoma cell grafting. Feeding mice for 3 days after tumor cell grafting with 150 μl daily dose of Aloe vera gel significantly diminished the number of newly-formed blood vessels in comparison to the controls. The difference between the groups of control and Aloe-fed mice (150 μl daily dose for 14 days) with respect to the 14 days' tumor volume was on the border of statistical significance. No difference was observed in tumor hemoglobin content.

Keywords: Aloe vera gel; angiogenesis; mice; tumor growth.

Fig. 1

Neovascular reaction 3 days after the intradermal injection of tumor cells

Fig. 2

Mean number of newly-formed blood vessels counted 3 days after the intradermal injection of sarcoma L-1 cells

Fig. 3

The effect of feeding mice with Aloe vera drinking gel for 14 days after L-1 sarcoma subcutaneous grafting on the tumor volume (difference on the border of statistical significance)