Aloe vera for Prevention of Acute Radiation Proctitis in Colorectal Cancer a Preliminary Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Adeleh Sahebnasagh, Fatemeh Saghafi, Arash Ghasemi, Jafar Akbari, Abbas Alipour, Solomon Habtemariam, Mohammadreza Safdari, Hassan Rezai Ghaleno, Ebrahim Salehifar

Journal: Journal of gastrointestinal cancer 2022;53(2):318-325

PMID: 33616843

View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To examine the preventive effects of Aloe vera in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Twenty colorectal cancer patients, who received radiation, were randomized to receive Aloe vera 3% or placebo ointment, 1 g twice daily for 6 weeks. At weekly visits, acute radiation proctitis (ARP) was evaluated by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and clinical presentation criteria as the primary endpoint. We also evaluated secondary endpoints of quality of life, psychosocial status, by applying Hospital Anxiety-Depression (HAD) Scale and laboratory measures of quantitative measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker for systemic inflammation.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in the symptom index (before treatment vs. after treatment with Aloe vera) for diarrhea (p = 0.029, median score: 0.5 vs. 0.001). The overall primary and secondary outcomes favored Aloe group, while the measures of toxicity did not achieve a statistical significant difference. The lifestyle score improved significantly with A. vera (p = 004), and they also had a lower depression score in HAD scale (p = 0.008). Furthermore, quantitative CRP decreased significantly during the course of treatment with Aloe vera.

CONCLUSION

The use of topical formulation of Aloe vera 3% diminishes the severity of ARP in colorectal cancer patients.

Address: Clinical Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.; Emam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.; Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.; Faculty of Medicine, Community Medicine Department, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.; Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories and Herbal Analysis Services UK, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime,, ME4 4TB, Kent, UK.; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s12029-021-00597-y