Henderson, C.. (1991, August 5). Substance boosts therapeutic effects of AZT. AIDS Weekly, 2-3.

Abstract: A complex carbohydrate compound purified from aloe vera appears to help drugs such as AZT and ACY block the pathology associated with HIV and herpes simplex virus. They also found that acemannan interfered with HIV’s ability to reproduce in infected cells.

McDaniel, H. R., Carpenter, R. H., Kemp, M. C., Kahlon, J., and McAnalley, B. H. (1989). A favorable response of HIV-1-infected patients to oral acemannan and development of prognostic criteria for clinical responsiveness.

Abstract: Reports two studies. The objective of the first was to assess response of HIV-1 patients to acemannan therapy; the objective of the second was to determine if a response to acemannan treatment could be predicted based on certain pre-therapy laboratory values. Three patients predicted to improve in all three criteria failed to do so, although they did improve in two parameters. None predicted to respond favorably failed to show some improvement. Three patients predicted to show no improvement did improve in at least one category with two of the patients improving in all three.

Olatunya, O. S., Olatunya, A. M., Anyabolu, H. C., Adejuyigbe, E. A., and Oyelami, O. A. (2012). Preliminary trial of aloe vera gruel on HIV infection. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(9), 850-853.

Abstract: Ten (10) young women diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa, a unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria who did not meet the national criteria for the use of anti-retroviral drugs were managed with 30-40 mL of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) gruel daily. Methods: Their CD4 counts, general improvement, and physical well-being (including weight gain) were monitored over a 1-year period. The findings were compared with those of 20 age-matched controls who were on anti-retroviral drugs. One (1) patient who reacted badly to anti-retroviral drug switched over to aloe vera. Results: The average weight gain among those on aloe vera was 4.7 kg compared to 4.8 kg by those on anti-retroviral drug (p = 0.916). The average rise in CD4 count among them was 153.7 cells/lL compared to 238.85 cells/lL among the controls (p = 0.087). There was no significant side effect(s) in either group except in the 1 patient who switched over from anti-retroviral drugs to aloe vera gruel. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that consumption of aloe vera may be of help to HIV-infected individuals in the tropics, given its availability and inexpensiveness.

Pulse, T. L., and Uhlig, E. (1990, Winter). A significant improvement in a clinical pilot study utilizing nutritional supplements, essential fatty acids and stabilized Aloe vera juice in 29 HIV seropositive, ARC and AIDS patients. Journal of Advancement in Medicine, 3(4).

Abstract: This study was concluded in November, 1989. As of June 1, 1990, all study patients from this research project who continue to be maintained on this treatment regimen have no adverse effects and only one death from K.S. Patient was non-compliant.

Sheets, M. A., Unger, B. A., Giggleman, G. F. Jr., and Tizzard, I. R. (1991, March). Studies on the effect of acemannan on retrovirus infections: Clinical stabilization of feline leukemia virus-infected cats. Molecular Biotherapy, 3, 41-45.

Abstract: Feline leukemia is a disease induced by an oncornavirus infection that inevitably causes clinically affected cats to die. It has been estimated that 40% of cats are dead within 4 weeks and 70% within 8 weeks of the onset of clinical symptoms. Acemannan is a complex carbohydrate with both immuno-stimulatory and direct antiviral properties. Administration of acemannan for 6 weeks intraperitoneally to clinically symptomatic cats significantly improved both the quality of life and the survival rate. Twelve weeks after initiation of treatment, 71% of treated cats were alive and in good health.

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