The Science Behind Aloe Gel and Improved Intestinal Drug Absorption (Part 2)

We are now in part two of collecting data from published studies on absorption enhancement using Aloe Gel.

As a quick review of part one of our focus on Aloe Vera and Acemannan as an absorption enhancer, we ended up looking at the graphic results of an experiment that incorporated various concentrations of Aloe Gel.

From this particular study, we obtained indications that insulin transported proportionally better across the lining of the intestines, where absorption of nutrients naturally takes place, in proportion to the concentrations of Aloe Gel. This was compared to the control experiment where no Aloe Gel was employed. You’re welcome to go to part one to see the entire report, but now let’s get part two underway.

As defined by the study that I will introduce shortly, one of the problems that some drugs have in terms of breaking a barrier of absorption is that they are classified as macromolecular, macro meaning large and molecular, of course, referencing the molecule. As a result, these kinds of drugs taken by mouth means these drugs are prevented from absorbing into the body because large molecules can have difficulty with absorption during the digestive processes.

Let’s first identify the study. It’s entitled Intestinal Drug Absorption Enhancement by Aloe Vera Gel and Whole Leaf Extract, In Vitro Investigations into the Mechanisms of Action. You’ll notice that Dr. Hammond is one of the authors here whose studies I introduced in previous presentations of this focus on absorption enhancement, along with four other investigators: Hayesbrook, Willers, Glenn, and Duplassie.

Like the previous study, these cells are Caco-2 cell monolayers, and if you remember from part one, these are cells that line the small intestine where absorption takes place. The study is a focus on drug absorption enhancement encouraged along by Aloe Vera Gel and Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Extract. This study, using an in vitro, that is a test tube-like environment, will look at the mechanisms of action, which is how a substance produces an effect in the body, therefore explaining what happens on molecular, cellular, and physiological levels to bring about the measurable results.

There is a substance that’s commonly used and is known to help with absorption that I first need to familiarize you with. It’s a significant part of the upcoming experiment. It’s called TMC, N-trimethyl chitosan chloride. Since TMC is an already known absorption enhancer, it will be an important part of these experiments to provide some additional comments about TMC to expand our understanding. Yes, our research is focused on Aloe Vera Gel, but TMC, because it already has a reputation for enhancing absorption, will give us an even better understanding of Aloe Vera absorption enhancement.

TMC is a chemically modified form of chitosan, a natural substance derived from chitin found in the shells of shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans. This modification makes TMC water-soluble at a wider range of pH levels and improves its ability to help drugs pass through cell membranes, especially in the intestines. Because of this, TMC is often studied as an absorption enhancer in drug delivery systems.

TMC is generally considered safe at low concentrations, but its toxicity depends on dose, molecular weight, and degree of modification. Studies suggest that at low concentrations, TMC is biocompatible and does not cause significant harm to cells. However, at high concentrations, it can be toxic to cells, possibly disrupting cell membranes. More research is needed to fully understand its long-term safety, but so far, it’s being explored as a promising and relatively safe drug absorption enhancer in pharmaceuticals, to repeat especially if flow concentrations are employed. Okay, so I’ve explained things like macromolecular, explaining why some drugs are not successfully absorbed in the digestive process. I’ve mentioned and elaborated on TMC, well known as an absorption enhancing substance. Let’s now discover what these five scientists found in a study published in 2018.

First, we’re going to cover Tier, T-E-E-R. This is trans-epithelial electrical resistance. TEER is a measurement of how well cells are connected and how they will either prevent or allow substances to pass through. If resistance is high, this means the cell layer is strong and tightly packed, blocking any substances from passing through. If resistance is low, this means the cell layer is weaker and has gaps, allowing substances to pass more easily. So specifically, we’re looking at electrical resistance, which is natural to the intestinal lining and where absorption of nutrients and other substances takes place naturally. To repeat, if the electrical resistance is high, the cell layer is strong and tightly packed and prevents substances from passing through. And a low electrical resistance means the cell layer allows substances to pass and absorb more readily.

The absorption enhancers, which would be the TMC and the testing of the various aloe vera concentrations, will not be added until an hour after the experiment begins. The graph indicates five colors reflecting five different experiments. The first step, one hour before the absorption enhancers are added in each of the five experiments, is to measure the TEER, which tells how tightly the cells are connected. The TEER is measured by a Millicell ERS meter, which is connected to special electrodes called chopstick electrodes to track changes in electrical resistance. All the tests indicate a 100% or near 100% TEER measurement.

Then after 30 minutes, they added DMEM liquid, which is a special buffered liquid, and it stands for Delbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium. It’s a special nutrient-rich liquid that scientists use to keep cells alive in a lab. It serves not only to mimic the conditions inside the human body so that cells behave naturally, but it is the part of the experiment called a negative control. This means that this DMEM liquid does nothing to the cells other than create a natural environment for them to exist in.

After another 30 minutes is when the absorption enhancers are added. The TMC, a known absorption enhancer, serves as the positive control of the experiments. A positive control is a sample that is treated in a way that guarantees a known expected result. It is used to show that the experiment is working properly, and if for some reason the experiment doesn’t work, a double check can be performed to evaluate the experiment for precision adjustments.

The unknown at this point in the experiment is if the aloe vera gel will behave in the same way as the TMC and contribute to absorption enhancement. The absorption enhancer for each of the experiments is then added. One experiment contains the TMC from which they are expecting results, and the other four experiments contain the various concentrations of aloe vera gel:

1. 0.1%
2. 0.5%
3. 1%
4. 1.5%

The W over V stands for weight over volume. For example, the 1% in W over V means that 1 gram of aloe vera gel is dissolved in 100 milliliters of solution. Think of 1% weight over volume like making a simple sugar water solution. Imagine dissolving 1 gram of sugar, about a quarter teaspoon, into 100 milliliters of water, about half a small cup. After stirring, the sugar completely dissolves, creating a 1% weight over volume sugar solution. The more concentrate you add, the stronger the sugar solution becomes, just like increasing the concentration of a scientific solution.

Measurements were then taken every 20 minutes for the next 2 hours. In the very first measurement at 20 minutes after adding the solutions, it is evident that the aloe vera gel solutions caused a rapid and relatively large decrease in the TEER, in the electrical resistance of the intestinal cells. Furthermore, the decrease in electrical resistance caused by some of the aloe vera gel solutions was larger than that of the positive control of TMC, which did indeed perform according to expectation. At that point and throughout the span of the two-hour window, recovery back to normal of the TEER began to take place as it made its way back to its original state. This is evidence that the substances used in this study, the TMC and the aloe gel and its various concentrations, made no toxic impact to the point of damaging cells or damaging the naturally occurring electrical resistance.

The experiment was repeated using aloe vera whole leaf extract. The gel would be the inner part of the leaf and the whole leaf extract would be made from the entire aloe vera leaf, including the outer rind. As you can see from this graph where the whole leaf extract was employed, very similar results occurred. It was noted in the study that though the aloe gel and aloe whole leaf extract both caused a rapid and relatively large decrease in the electrical resistance and thereby increased the absorbability factor, the decrease in electrical resistance did not consistently increase or decrease based on how much volume of aloe gel or extract was used.

So what does that mean? What can we learn from it? This means that though other studies we have covered give indication that results can be dose-dependent depending on the particulars of a given study, and because I want to fully expose all we are discovering here, this study and its particulars, with a focus on electrical resistance, give indication that results were generated with little regard for total dosage. But results were generated nonetheless.

Reference was made in this study of three other previous studies whose results were in line with the outcome of this study. I’ll quickly show a screenshot of these studies and welcome you to pause and peruse them as you see fit.

Early in the study, mention was made of Acemannan, referencing its scientific name, acetylated mannen. The presence of Acemannan, the stabilized active ingredient in aloe, continues its significance in yet another study among hundreds of others to point to the impact Acemannan, the now stabilized active ingredient in aloe, delivers to the healing journey of many. This time as a contributor to absorption and permeation enhancement. Be sure and access all the videos with this emphasis on absorption enhancement using aloe vera.

Meanwhile, this is Tony McWilliams and I hope you will always be careful to maintain good works to meet urgent needs and become heroes to your generation.