Aloemannan, Significant Antitumor Efficacy
Winters
Health Science Center, University Of Texas

In 1977 while conducting a series of animal experiments using aloemannan a mucopolysaccharide of Aloe arborescens, detected aloemannan a significant antitumor efficacy. Unlike usual anticancer drugs killing cancer cells directly, it acts as a stimulus for the body’s defense mechanism, or immunity to suppress tumor. In other words, it prohibits multiplication of cancer cells while it is coexistent with them. Prof. Winters and his group of the Health Science Center at the University of Texas verified their test-tube experiments using human cervical cancer cells that Aloe vera extract prohibits the growth of cancer cells.

Plant Lectin, ATF1011, On The Tumor Cell Surface Augments Tumor-Specific Immunity Through Activation Of T Cells Specific For The Lectin
Yoshimoto R; Kondoh N; Isawa M; Hamuro J
Cancer Immunol Immunother 25(1):25-30 1987

The possibility that a plant lectin as a carrier protein would specifically activate T cells, resulting in the augmentation of anti-tumor immunity was investigated. ATF1011, a nonmitogenic lectin for T cells purified from Aloe arborescens Mill, bound equally to normal and tumor cells. ATF1011 binding on the MM102 tumor cell surfaces augmented anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) antibody production of murine splenocytes when the mice were primarily immunized with TNP-conjugated MM102 tumor cells. The alloreactive cytotoxic T cell response was also augmented by allostimulator cells binding ATF1011 on the cell surfaces. These augmented responses may be assumed to be mediated by the activation of helper T cells recognizing ATF1011 as a carrier protein. Killer T cells were induced against ATF1011 antigen in the H-2 restricted manner using syngeneic stimulator cells bearing ATF1011 on the cell surfaces. When this lectin was administered intralesionally into the tumors, induction of cytotoxic effector cells was demonstrated. These results suggest that intralesionally administered ATF1011 binds to the tumor cell membrane and activates T cells specific for this carrier lectin in situ, which results in the augmented induction of systemic anti-tumor immunity.

Aloe Vera & AIDS Research

Various AIDS studies were completed by researchers such as Dr. Terry Pulse, M.D., Dr. Reg McDaniel, M.D., Dr. Terry Watson, D.O., Dr. Clumeck, M.D. (of Belgium) and others throughout the 1980’s using oral mucopolysaccharides. The results were impressive, demonstrating in many of the studies an average of 70% improvement in symptoms and laboratory criteria within 3 to 4 months. Many patients stated that opportunistic infections had stopped and they were able to return to normal activity. In one dramatic case, a man with advanced AIDS had 17 liver tumors and after one and a half years on oral Aloe mucopolysaccharides, his T-Cell count was normal and all the tumors had disolved (confirmed by x-ray films).

Lab studies showed that helper lymphocytes (CD4) rose to three times the pre-treatment levels. HIV-1 virus could no longer be cultured. P-24 antigen levels for the virus dropped or became negative.

Researchers at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee discovered that Aloe mucopolysaccharides alters synthesis and thus the structure of the AIDS virus envelope necessary for infecting lymphocytes. Further studies at The Southern Research Institute found that there is suppression of the viral messenger RNA in HIV-1 infected leukocytes. Therefore, the reproduction of HIV-1 is inhibited with a natural and non-toxic substance.

In studies completed at the Fort Worth Medical Center Complex it was demonstrated that a person’s leukocytes were rendered resistant to HIV-1 virus in culture tests outside the body.

Effects Of Aloe Extracts On Human Normal & Tumor Cells In-Vitro
Winters WD; Benavides R; Clouse WJ
Dep. Microbiol., Univ. Tex. Health Sci. Center
Econ Bot 35 (1), 1981, 89-95

Fractions of leaf extracts from 2 local types, labeled Aloe vera (subsequently identified as A. barbadensis Mill., and A. saponaria Haw.), were prepared by differential centrifugation and tested by in vitro assays for the presence of lectin-like activities and for effects on the attachment and growth of human normal and tumor cells. Fractions of extracts of fresh leaves and commercially A. vera gel had high levels of lectin-like substances measured by immunodiffusion and nemagglutination assays. Substances in fluid fractions from both fresh leaf sources markedly promoted attachment and growth of human normal cells.