Aloe Ferox Medicinal Properties - Anti-inflammatory

Inflammation is a non-specific immune response by the body to any type of injury. It is characterized by redness, heat, swelling and pain. According to Clayton (1993) the steps in inflammation are:

1. vasodilation that reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow (causing
   redness and heat)
2. followed by swelling due to an excessive amount of tissue fluid and
3. pain.

Vázquez (1996) demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of aloe ferox gel. It inhibited prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid. While Yagi (1982) showed that the glycoprotein of aloe gel cleaved the bonds of the bradykinin molecule reducing pain and inflammation. In a later study (Bautista 2004) the antibradykinin effect was associated with the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.

Inflammation is also involved in conditions such as arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis closely resembles adjuvant arthritis in rats and was studied by Davis (1992). According to this experiment aloe was injected and decreased inflammation (50%) and stimulated fibroblast growth repair.

Hanley (1982) showed when rat paws were injected with Aloe ferox it decreased inflammation (48%) and inhibited the immune response (72%). A subsequent study (Davis 1985) showed that when Aloe ferox was applied topically in a hydrophilic cream it reduced inflammation (39%) and subsequent arthritis (45%).

It has also been found that aloe has analgesic properties that can be ascribed to the presence of salicylates, which has an aspirin like effect (Shelton 1991).