Polysaccharides from Aloe vera and Oral Ulcerations

Abstract

Aloe veraAloe verais a locally grown herbal plant. Aloe vera has historically been used to treat skin wounds. Investigations have discovered that Aloe vera can increase the number of fibroblasts, which play a key role in wound healing. The active ingredient in Aloe vera gel is acemannan. Acemannan is a polysaccharide located within the protoplast of the Aloe vera parenchyma cells. Acemannan is composed of β-(1 → 4)-acetylated polymannose chains. Acemannan has been reported to accelerate oral wound healing in animal studies. Recurrent aphthous ulcerations are common painful oral mucosal ulcers that affect the quality of life of patients. Clinically, acemannan is effective in reducing both ulcer size and associated pain. Patients reported that they were mostly satisfied with acemannan treatment compared to standard topical steroid treatment. Thus, acemannan can be used for the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulceration.