Aloe Vera - Acemannan

Aloe Vera

› Aloe vera is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates, andmany countries have proper geographic features required forgrowing Aloe vera.

Composition

› The most important part of Aloe vera is its leaf.

› Alo vera leaves is composed of two main sections:

1. Latex

2. Gel

› The gel contained in Aloe vera leaves is composed of:

1. About 98.5% to 99.5% water.

2. The remaining dry matter contains more than 75 biologically active ingredients which havemedicinal effects that are useful in treating diseases.

Cont. …

› Major ingredients of Aloe vera include;

1. Anthraquinones

2. Saccharides

3. Vitamins

4. Enzymes

5. Low-molecular-weight compounds

Cont. …

› These compounds give Aloe vera its effects as;

1. Anti-inflammatory

2. Immunomodulatory

3. Wound-healing

4. Anti-viral

5. Anti-fungal

6. Anti-tumor

7. Anti-diabetic

8. Anti-oxidant

Saccharides

› Almost 60% of dry matter of Aloe vera gel is composed of polysaccharides.

› Numerous studies suggest that many benefits of Aloe vera are attributable topolysaccharides contained in Aloe vera gel.

Cont. …

› A compound often analyzed by researchers is the polysaccharide acemannan whichhas;

1. Immunomodulatory

2. Anti-microbial

3. Anti-tumor effects

Effects on Intestinal Microflora

Effects on Intestinal Microflora

› Balance of intestinal microflora in broilers is an important factor contributing toimproved growth performance and immune response.

› Anti-bacterial compounds, like herbs, play a significant role in balancing andimproving intestinal microflora in chickens.

Aloe Vera Gel Shows an Antibacterial Action

› Aloe vera has an impact on intestinal microflora in broilers;

– Increase in Aloe vera gel in broiler feeds (1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%) leads toincreased Lactobacillus count and decreased E. coli count.

› When acemannan (0.1% and 0.05%), polysaccharide (0.1%), and Aloe vera gel(0.1%) were added to broiler feed, they;

1. Increase lactobacillus count

2. Reduce bifidobacteria count as well as a reduction in E. Coli count.

Mechanism of Action

› Unknown

› It is likely to be similar to the anti-bacterial effects of some herbs and mushroomsthat improve intestinal microflora.

› It is also likely that the polysaccharide contained in Aloe vera (acemannan) follows amechanism like that of prebiotics since studies found prebiotic-like impacts ofpolysaccharides contained in medicinal herbs and mushrooms.

› Other researchers attribute anti-bacterial effects of Aloe vera to its fumaric acidcontent.

Effects on Immune Response

Effects on Immune Response

› Previous studies show that polysaccharides contained in medicinal herbs andmushrooms can improve the response of immune system.

› An important property of Aloe vera that has been the subject of many in vivo and invitro experiments is improvement in immune response, probably due to theacemannan contained in Aloe vera.

Mechanism of Action

› Acemannan contained in Aloe vera gel is a β (1-4)-linked acetylated mannancontaining mannose;

1. Mannose can attach to mannose receptors in macrophages and activate thesemacrophages.

2. Acemannan can stimulate production of cytokines.

Aloe Vera and NDV

Darabighane et al. (2012)

› An increase in antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on days 24 and38 by adding Aloe vera gel to broiler feeds (at 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%).

Valle-Paraso et al. (2005)

› Broilers treated with 2% Aloe vera gel (mixed with their drinking water) showedsignificant increase in antibody titer against NDV on days 37 and 52, compared tothe control group.

Cont. …

Alemi et al. (2012)

› An increase in antibody titer against NDV after adding Aloe vera gel powder (at0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%) to broiler feeds.

Jiang et al. 2005

› An improvement in antibody titer in broilers against NDV as a result of addingacemannan (0.1% and 0.05%), polysaccharide (0.1%), and Aloe vera gel (0.1%) tobroiler feed.

Aloe Vera and WBCs

› Assessment of blood parameters showed an increase in total white blood cell andlymphocyte counts on days 37 and 52 for broilers that received 2% Aloe vera gel(mixed with drinking water) compared to the control group.

Cont. …

Darabighane et al. (2011)

› An increase in total white blood cell count of broilers as a result of adding Aloevera gel to broiler feeds.

Cont. …

› In another study that used Aloe vera gel powder in broiler feeds, a significantincrease was observed in groups treated with Aloe vera gel powder compared to thecontrol group regarding:

1. Total white blood cell count

2. Red blood cell count

3. Hemoglobin

› The 1% Aloe vera gel powder group showed the highest hemoglobin, red blood cell,and white blood cell count.

Aloe Vera and Immune Organs

Besharatian et al. (2012)

› Did not observe a significant difference in weight of lymphoid organs, but reported aweight gain in spleen and bursa.

› Such relative increase in the weight of lymphoid organs as a result of adding Aloevera to feed or drinking water suggests immune (humoral and cellular) systemreadiness against antigens.

Effects on Growth Performance

Effects on Growth Performance

› In an experiment comparing the effects of Aloe vera gel (mixed with feed) and AGP(virginiamycin):

1. AGP resulted in better growth performance compared to the performance ofgroups that received Aloe vera gel (at 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%), and the controlgroup.

2. No significant difference was observed between the antibiotic group and the 2%Aloe vera gel group in terms of body weight gain and FCR.

Effects on Coccidiosis

Effects on Coccidiosis

Yim et al. (2011)

› Broilers received Aloe vera powder (0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) had smaller fecaloocyst shedding count compared to infected group fed with the standard diet.

Cont. …

Akhtar et al. (2012)

› Fecal oocyst shedding in broilers orally administered with ethanol and aqueousextracts of Aloe vera pulp at 300 mg/kg body weight/day for 3 consecutive days wassignificantly lower compared to the infected control group.

› Broilers that received aqueous extract of Aloe vera pulp had the lowest mean scorelesion in caeca and intestine in comparison to the control group and the group thatreceived ethanol extract of Aloe vera pulp.

Cont. …

Darabighane and Zarei (2011)

› Broilers receiving 2.5% Aloe vera gel added to their feed had the smallest fecaloocyst shedding among all groups.

Conclusion

Cont. …

› Aloe vera, as an additive to broiler chicken feed, has great potentials for improving;

1. Intestinal health

2. Immune system response

3. Growth performance

4. It can also be used in controlling coccidiosis

Cont. …

› Advantages of Aloe vera added to broiler feeds depend on several factors:

1. Form of use (powder, gel, extract (ethanolic or aqueous))

2. Polysaccharide extracted from gel

3. Dosage

4. Genetics of broilers

5. Ingredients of diet

6. Farm management