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Antiarthritic Activity Of Anthraquinones

Found In Aloe Vera For Podiatric

Medicine

By Robert H. Davis, Ph.D.; Patrick S. Agnew, B.S. & Eugene Shapiro, B.S.
Journal Of The American Podiatric Medical Assoc., Vol 76, Number 2,
February 1986

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and crippling systemic disease for which there is no cure. The best
experimental model for studying rheumatoid arthritis in humans is the adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.
One of the group of compounds found in Aloe is the anthraquinones. These substances have been
recognized for their use in veterinary medicine against inflammation. The authors evaluate the
anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of anthraquinone, anthracene, cinnamic acid, and anthranilic
acid found in the Aloe vera plant, and show what contribution each ingredient makes toward the total
activity found in Aloe.

In previous studies, the authors have shown that Aloe gel extract has anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic
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activity. Combinations of Aloe with ascorbic acid, thymus extract, and RNA significantly improved the
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activity. The chemical makeup of Aloe holds a valuable key to antiarthritic activity that could be used by
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podiatrists to treat patients. Elements in Aloe gel include lignin, saponins, anthraquinones, inorganic
ingredients / minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids. Anthraquinones such as anthracene have been
recognized for their use in veterinary medicine against inflammation. They possess anti-inflammatory,
analgesic, and tissue repair properties.

No doubt anthraquinones have a bearing on the healing and pain-killing effectiveness of the fresh leaf
gel. Few people understand the meaning of the anthraquinone complex in Aloe. Many studies verify the
successful treatment of burns, ulcers, and dermatitis, but no one knows why Aloe has these healing
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qualities. The authors propose to test the antiarthritic and anti-inflammatory activity of anthraquinone,
anthracene, cinnamic acid, and anthranilic acid in an adjuvant arthritis model in order to determine if
there are possible ingredients that can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This approach will help us
understand the antiarthritic activity of Aloe. The purpose of this study is to determine, in part, the active
elements in Aloe so as to unlock the mystery of the gel. Many medicines in common use today, such as
digitalis and quinidine, were derived in a similar way from barks and leaves.

Materials And Methods

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (175 to 200 gm, 12/group) were injected with heat-killed
Mycobacterium butyricum. The bacteria were suspended in light mineral oil at 5 mg/ml. Under ether
anesthesia, two groups of rats were injected in their right hind paw with 0.1 ml of oil. All the other groups
were injected with the suspended bacteria. Six hours after the injections, the day 0 measurements were
taken. Two experiments were conducted together. One study investigated the effect of anthraquinones on
the prevention of adjuvant arthritis. The other study determined their effect on established adjuvant
arthritis. Three control groups were used. The animals injected with oil alone were used to be sure that the
oil, itself, did not cause swelling. One of the groups injected with adjuvant was also injected with distilled
water at the same times and amounts as those groups being treated. This was done to determine whether
the volume and frequency of injections affected the amount of swelling. A third group was injected with
the adjuvant.