Abstract
Aloe vera continues to be used for wound healing as a folk medicine. We previously reported that A. vera gel has angiogenic activity. In this study, we report upon the isolation of an angiogenic component beta-sitosterol from A. vera and examination of its effect upon damaged blood vessels of the Mongolian gerbil. In a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay, beta-sitosterol was found to have an angiogenic effect. It enhanced new vessel formation in gerbil brains damaged by ischaemia/reperfusion, especially in the cingulated cortex and septal regions, in a dose-dependent fashion (up to 500 microg/kg, p < 0.05, n = 34 - 40). beta-Sitosterol also enhanced the expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, namely von Willebrand factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor Flk-1, and blood vessel matrix laminin (p < 0.05, n = 6). In addition, the intraperitoneal administration of beta-sitosterol at 500 microg/kg/day for a period of 19 days significantly improved the motion recovery of ischaemia/reperfusion-damaged gerbils as assessed by rota-rod testing (p < 0.001, n = 10). Our results suggest that beta-sitosterol has therapeutic angiogenic effects on damaged blood vessels.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aloe*
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Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / metabolism
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Animals
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Behavior, Animal / drug effects
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Blood Vessels / drug effects
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Blotting, Western
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Brain / blood supply
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Brain / drug effects*
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Brain / metabolism
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Chick Embryo
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism
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Gerbillinae
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Immunohistochemistry
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Laminin / drug effects
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Laminin / metabolism
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Lymphokines / drug effects
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Lymphokines / metabolism
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Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
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Plant Leaves / chemistry
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / drug effects
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Receptors, Growth Factor / drug effects
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Receptors, Growth Factor / metabolism
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
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Reperfusion Injury / physiopathology
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Sitosterols / isolation & purification
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Sitosterols / pharmacology*
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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von Willebrand Factor / drug effects
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von Willebrand Factor / metabolism
Substances
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Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
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Endothelial Growth Factors
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Laminin
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Lymphokines
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Plant Extracts
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Receptors, Growth Factor
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Sitosterols
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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von Willebrand Factor
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gamma-sitosterol
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor