Effect of Aloe Extract on Peripheral Phagocytosis in Adult Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Screening of extracts from Aloe stored in the dark and cold for phagocytosis in adult bronchial asthmatic showed activity in the nondialyzable material from the pulp fraction. An active fraction was further separated by means of column chromatography on DEAE-cellulofine. The active components were found to be in the glycoprotein and polysaccharide fractions. It is an important finding that the glycoprotein fraction clearly enhanced activity of both phagocytosis and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in a dose-dependent fashion. From quantitation of the polysaccharide and glycoprotein fractions it can be speculated that Filatow's hypothesis might be partly explained in terms of an increase in the polysaccharide fraction which acts as immunopotentiator and promotes phagocytosis.