• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.356-365
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• 2013

The novel Aloe gels were prepared with dewatering and impregnation by soaking (DIS) processing of Aloe vera leaf slice at four different temperatures (25, 35, 45 and $55^{\circ}C$), using dehydration solution of 40% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG4000). The PEG-impregnation to Aloe vera leaf slice during DIS was observed depending on immersion temperature, and the PEG-impregnated Aloe vera gel (PEG-i-AVG) obtained was characterized using $^1H$ NMR, FT-IR, GPC, XRD and TGA. The PEG-i-AVG had the higher levels of Aloe bioactives (glucomannan and O-acetyl contents) and better quality indices by $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy than those of native Aloe gel. Also, the obtained Aloe gel maintained the bimodal patterns in higher molecular weight region by GPC indicating no degradation of polysaccharide from native Aloe gel. The result observed by SEM confirmed a surface modification by forming the porous structure, and TGA result exhibited better thermal stability than that of native Aloe gel. XRD result revealed that the crystalline structure in Aloe gel was led by incorporation of PEG. Significant decrease of %insolubility and high enhancement of water solubility index were observed, respectively, and highly ordered conformation such as a helix structure was also indicated by Congo red reaction. We concluded that the modification effect for enhancing function of native Aloe gel was successfully obtained by DIS process using PEG as a dehydrating agent. These results suggested that this DIS process had a high potential for developing a new minimally processed product from Aloe vera leaf.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.31.1-31.14
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• 2020

The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is considered suboptimal, and 1 way to improve the vaccines is using adjuvants. However, the current pool of adjuvants used in influenza vaccination is limited due to safety concerns. Aloe vera, or aloe, has been shown to have immunomodulatory functions and to be safe for oral intake. In this study, we explored the potential of orally administered processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. We first evaluated its adjuvanticity with a split-type pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Ag by subjecting the mice to lethal homologous influenza challenge. Oral PAG administration with the pH1N1 Ag increased survival rates in mice to levels similar to those of alum and MF59, which are currently used as adjuvants in influenza vaccine formulations. Similarly, oral PAG administration improved the survival of mice immunized with a commercial trivalent influenza vaccine against lethal homologous and heterologous virus challenge. PAG also increased hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization Ab titers against homologous and heterologous influenza strains following immunization with the split-type pH1N1 Ag or the commercial trivalent vaccine. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PAG may potentially be used as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2013

Previous studies have shown that Aloe QDM complex, which is consisted of chromium (Cr), aloesin (ALS) and processed Aloe vera gel (PAG), exert antidiabetic activity in a high fat diet-induced mouse model of type 2 diabetes. In this study we examined the mechanism of the antidiabetic activity of the Aloe QDM complex. Rat myoblast cell line L6 cells were cultured in the presence of Cr, ALS, and PAG alone and in combinations, and then the capability of the cells to uptake glucose was examined using radiolabeled glucose. All of the 3 agents, Cr, ALS and PAG, exerted glucose uptake-enhancing activity in L6 cells. The most potent capability to uptake glucose was observed when L6 cells were cultured with the Aloe QDM complex. The activity of the Aloe QDM complex to enhance glucose uptake was prominent in conditions where existing insulin concentrations are low. We also examined the effects of the Aloe QDM complex on the plasma membrane expression of GLUT4 in L6 cells. The Aloe QDM complex increased the content of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane, while decreasing the content of GLUT4 in the light microsome. Taken together, these results show that the antidiabetic activity of the Aloe QDM complex is at least in part due to the stimulation of glucose uptake into the muscle cells, and this activity of the Aloe QDM complex is mediated through the enhancement of the translocation of GLUT4 into the plasma membrane.