Aloe vs cancer: the extract is a potential weapon against brain cancer, says an Italian study

Aloe has anti-tumor properties in the case of glioblastoma multiforme, a serious form of brain cancer. The discovery comes from the Italian researchers of the Pozzilli IRCCS who analyzed the effects of aloe extract, aloe-emodin, both in vivo and in vitro, obtaining decidedly positive results but needing further studies.

An aloe extract could become an excellent ally in the war against brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme: a recent Italian study has shown that it is in fact able to inhibit tumor growth. The study of the Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology of the Neuropathology Unit of I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed of Pozzilli was published in the Environmental Toxicology journal digned by Dr. Antonella Arcella who explains the details of the experiment.

Aloe as enemy of cancer

Dr. Arcella explains that the experiment focused on an extract of the aloe plant, aloe-emodin, as past studies had suggested its antineoplastic properties, which however had not been tested on glioblastoma cells. To learn more, Italian scientists have carried out some tests both in vitro and in vivo and, in both cases, have been able to observe that aloe-emodin is indeed able to cause an inhibition of tumor growth in cultured cells in the laboratory, as well as in animal models in which the substance has succeeded in limiting the development of the disease.

What is glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme is considered the most serious and common brain tumor of adults and it has a treatment that is usually surgical, which is associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The cells of this cancer, however, are very invasive, they can react and adapt, increasing the risk of recurrence which often has a very negative prognosis.

However we can't sing victory yet

The researchers, however enthusiastic about the results obtained, let us know that further studies will be needed to understand whether this substance can actually be used as an adjunct to the therapies currently used. "We will naturally need to investigate the action of the molecule – explains the researcher – and evaluate the effect of aloe-emodin associated with temodal (current drug for brain tumor therapy) and analyze any toxic effects on normal cells, before you can think of clinical use. The perspective that opens up is very interesting: aloe emodin could become an additional weapon against glioblastom".