Aloe vera and Honey Solution and Their Ethanolic Extraction Solution Could Act on Metastasis-Regulating Processes in Walker 256 Tumor Tissues In Vivo?

Abstract

Research has shown that both Aloe vera and honey have anticancer and nutrition properties, including the inhibition of metastasis. In order to evaluate the effect of a solution of Aloe vera and honey (A) and their ethanolic fraction (F) on metastasis-regulating processes in primary tumors, Wistar rats were subcutaneously implanted with Walker 256 tumors and treated with A and F (670 µl/kg by gavage, daily for 21 days). An analysis of the primary tumor tissues of these animals showed a decrease in N-cadherin expression in groups WA and WF, with a concomitant increase in E-cadherin expression in group WA compared to the control group. Cathepsin D activity was also decreased in the tumor tissues from groups WA and WF. In addition, the number of blood vessels and their diameter significantly reduced in tumor tissues from groups WA and WF compared to those from control group. UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of the samples A and F, suggested presence of molecules with verified antitumor activity, including caffeic acid, ferulic acid, mannose, aloin A, aloin B, pinocembrin, chrysin, and kaempferol. These data showed that treatment with A and F could reduce the metastatic propensity of tumors by modulating neoangiogenesis and the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Declaration statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support of FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, #2010/00209-9, #2014/13334-7, #2017/02739-4), CAPES and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico; #302863/2013-3; #302524/2016-9; #427859/2018-2; #311166/2016-4; #301771/2019-7). R. Tomasin, MSc was supported by a scholarship sponsored by FAPESP (Grant #2010/00714-5) and PhD of A. C. R. F. Pascoal supported by FAPESP (Grant # 2011/17067-5 and financial support Grant = 15/03726-8). The language of this manuscript was edited by native English-speaking editors (American Journal Experts, Certificate number DF19-A8B1-BB53-9516-8102).