Pampanga High School

City of San Fernando, Pampanga

S.Y. 2015-2016

Aloe Vera Gel as an Anti-Blood Coagulant

Members:
Danica Bondoc

9-Hydrogen

Myles Repolda

9-Hydrogen

Whaine Tongol

9-Nitrogen

Submitted to:
Mr. Christopher O. Lumba
January, 2016

II. Review of the Related Literature

A.Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) came from the family of Xanthorrhoeaceae or barbadensis
(Tree Lily). It is a succulent plant species which is stem less and has leaves that are light green. It
has a very short stem w/c can grow from 60-100 cm in height. Its leaves are fleshy and have a
very liquidy extract. During summer it grows flowers which are color yellow that grows at the
tip of its leaf.

This kind of plant has a life span of 12 years and matures when its about 4 years old.
According to Atherton and David (2006), the spiky tapering leaves are about 2 feet long and 4
inches wide. This kind of plant sends pups from the base of the plant. The plants are harvested
from the outer leaves and are extracted by filtering. The so called Rind was the outermost layer.
The rind was very important for it contains all the 75 nutrients that the plant has. The one that
holds the plant together is the mucilage layer. This layer contains very high polysaccharides.
The part where the nutrients are stored is called parenchyma.

According to Silva, et al. (2014), the effects of water availability were evaluated on the
photosynthetic tissue anatomy in Aloe Vera (L) Burm f. and its relationship with morphological,
physiological parameters, and water use efficiency as a function of aerial biomass and gel
production. Plants were subjected to four levels of water availability equivalent to 20% (T1),
15% (T2), 10% (T3), and 5% (T4) of the atmospheric evaporative demand. The plants exhibited
anatomical, morphological, and physiological responses to the different watering treatments. The

extreme treatments produced negative responses due to excess water in T1 and water deficit in
T4. Treatments T2 and T3 elicited positive responses in cell characteristics and productivity.
Anatomical and structural characteristics were closely linked to physiology. Increased stomata
number was negatively related to leaf length, width, and thickness (r = 0.85, 0.81, and 0.59,
respectively) and to biomass production (r = 0.84), and positively related to the increase of
cuticle thickness (r = 0.78). Treatment T2 showed the maximum efficiency of water use for
biomass production (24.6 g L1 ), which was closely related to cell size (r = 0.68) and number of
stomata (r = 0.70).

During the heat of the growing season, a rosette of pointed, fleshy leaves that are full of
jellylike pulp and sap grow. Leaf edges have spines on them to discourage food-seeking and
water-seeking animals from eating the leaves. As long as temperatures never dip below freezing
for extended periods, the leaf tissues remain plump and sturdy. A mature Aloe vera grows to a
height and width of about 24 inches. At the base of the plant are small, vegetative plant "pups,"
which grow alongside the mother plant and eventually create a large, clumping mass of Aloe
plants. Aloe Vera plants live depending on growing conditions. With mother plants producing
both young plant pups at their bases and seeds, many Aloe Vera plants often grow in a small area.
Only extreme environmental stresses cause the demise of these succulents, such as a hard freeze,
decimation by a hungry animal and an extreme drought that finally depletes the Aloe's moisture.
Also, flooding causes fungal rot on an Aloe, hastening its death (Burghardt, 2008).

Figure 1 Aloe Vera

B. Anti-Blood Coagulant
Anti-blood coagulant or anti platelet is an important tool in the medicinal field. They are
used by many Doctors to patients with blood clotting problems.

Clots form when platelets stick together and proteins in the blood bind together to form a
solid mass. Blood clots are usually good, such as when you get a scrape or cut. However, when
blood clots form in your blood vessels, they can be dangerous because they can block your
circulation. When blood clots form in your arteries or heart, they stop the flow of blood. This
can cause a heart attack. If a blood clot clogs the blood vessels in your brain, this can cause a
stroke. Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs work by stopping platelets from adhering to one
another and clotting proteins from binding together. Your doctor may recommend an
anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication if you have cardiovascular (heart) disease or problems
with blood circulation or blood flow. These medications are also sometimes prescribed for

people with atrial fibrillation (abnormal heartbeat). People who have had heart valve surgery, or
have congenital heart defects, can also be prescribed these medications (Kinman,2013).

C. Laboratory Mice
Humans and mice have almost the same gene, thats why they are the ones that are being
used in an experiment especially if the experiment is not applicable to humans.

Over the last two decades, those similarities have become even stronger. Scientists can
now breed genetically-altered mice called "transgenic mice" that carry genes that are similar to
those that cause human diseases. Likewise, select genes can be turned off or made inactive,
creating "knockout mice," which can be used to evaluate the effects of cancer-causing chemicals
(carcinogens) and assess drug safety, according to the FBR. Over the last two decades, those
similarities have become even stronger. Scientists can now breed genetically-altered mice called
"transgenic mice" that carry genes that are similar to those that cause human diseases. Likewise,
select genes can be turned off or made inactive, creating "knockout mice," which can be used to
evaluate the effects of cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens) and assess drug safety, according
to the FBR (Melina, 2010).

Figure 2 Laboratory Mice

D. Vitamin K
Vitamin K (Phylloquinone or Phytonadione) plays a key role in helping the blood clot,
preventing excessive bleeding with C31H46O2 as its chemical formula. Unlike many
other vitamins, vitamin K is not typically used as a dietary supplement. Vitamin K is actually a
group of compounds. Vitamin K1 is obtained from leafy greens and some other vegetables.
Vitamin K2 is a group of compounds largely obtained from meats, cheeses, and eggs, and
synthesized by bacteria. Recently, some people have looked to vitamin K2 to
treat osteoporosis and steroid-induced bone loss, but the research is conflicting. At this point
there is not enough data to recommend using vitamin K2 for osteoporosis.

E. History
According to Dapper, etal. (2007), Aloe vera gel could inhibit blood clotting via actions
on both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Further studies are however recommended in this
regard.

Aloe Vera: http://www.gardenguides.com/137832-life-cycle-aloe-vera-plant.html

Figure 1: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aloe_barbadensis.JPG
Lab Mice: http://www.livescience.com/32860-why-do-medical-researchers-use mice. html
Anti-blood Coagulant: http://www.healthline.com/health/anticoagulant-and-antiplatelet-drugs# Overview1
Vitamin K: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-vitamin-k
Figure 2: http://www.livescience.com/32860-why-do-medical-researchers-use-mice.html
History 1: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/phmedj/article/view/38894