Anti-Proliferative Effects of Aloe vera against Human Cervical and Breast Cancer Cells

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is one of the herbal remedies with a longstanding history for its curative and therapeutic properties for various ailments. Till date more than 75 active components with medicinal value have been identified in Aloe vera and have been suggested to possess synergistic action in alleviating the diseased conditions (Scalbert and Williamson, 2000; Hamman, 2008; Nejatzadeh-Barandozi, 2013). Its various biological activities include improving the bioavailability of coadministered vitamins and absorption of poorly absorbable drugs, and also possess purgative, anti-microbial, immunostimulatory, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-diabetic activities (Azam et al., 2003; Nejatzadeh-Barandozi, 2013). Accumulating scientific evidence suggests that Aloe vera possesses remarkable preventive and therapeutic potential against various cancers (Niciforovic et al., 2007; Joseph and Raj, 2010). The bioactive constituents of Aloe vera with chemopreventive potential such as lectin, aloin, barbaloin, aloe-emodin and aloesin have shown to possess immune-potentiating, antimutagenic,