Aloe vera, a phytochemical ameliorates Huntington’s disease pathology in Drosophila model

Priya Lakra; Megha Chatterjee; Anjalika Chongtham; Kumari Aditi; Namita Agrawal

Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2015

Aloe vera, a phytochemical ameliorates Huntington’s disease pathology in Drosophila model

Priya Lakra, Megha Chatterjee, Anjalika Chongtham, Kumari Aditi, Namita Agrawal

Abstract :

Huntington�s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch in huntingtin (Htt) protein. Progressive degeneration of neurons and impaired motor function has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HD. HD pathology is complex and may affect multiple cellular processes. At present, no cure or effective treatment for HD exists. Additionally, the currently available treatments cause undesirable and severe side effects.Therefore, we investigated the effects of the �miracle plant� or �natural healer� plant �Aloe vera� on HD pathogenesis. Aloe vera is an ancient plant which has an excellent safety profile and a oad range of medicinal properties, including anti–oxidant, anti–inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Here we show that Aloe vera leaf gel extract significantly suppresses disease symptoms in a Drosophila model of HD which mimics the key features of the agonizing, fatal human disease. Therefore, we propose that Aloe vera can be an excellent and effective phytochemical for the treatment of HD symptoms with the possibility of least or no side effects.