Author: W Chen, Z Lu, A Viljoen, J Hamman Planta Medica, 2010
Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel and whole leaf extract have effect on the permeability of Caco-2 cell monolayers, transepithelial electrical resistance, test solutions to measure reversibility of the effect, A. vera gel and whole leaf extract were able to significantly reduce the transepithelial electrical resistance of the Caco-2 cell monolayers at concentrations above 0.5?% w/v and thereby showed the ability to open tight junctions between adjacent cells. This effect was fully reversible, as the electrical resistance of the cell monolayers returned to the original value upon removal of the test solutions. The A. vera gel and whole leaf extract solutions significantly enhanced the transport of insulin across the Caco-2 cell monolayers compared with the control. The results suggest that these plant products have a high potential to be used as absorption enhancers in novel dosage forms for drugs with poor bio availabilities when administered orally. On the other hand, an uncontrolled increase in the bioavailability of drugs that are taken simultaneously with A. vera gel and whole leaf extract products may result in adverse effects,
